TOKYO CRUSADERS
ESTABLISHED 1990
MATCH REPORTS
Crusaders vs. Zenkai Beers – 01/03/2026
Crusaders beaten by Zenkai Beers who take top spot of the Kashushika League Division 2....playoff game to come!!!
Match Summary
Kashushika League – Round Two
WHEN: March 01 2026
WHERE: Mizumoto Sogo Sports Center
KICKOFF: 11:10
RESULT: Tokyo Crusaders 24 - 52 Zenkai Beers
First-Half - Zenkai Beers make lightning fast start
With a playoff spot already a guarantee, it was time to see who would come out on top between the Zenkai Beers and the Crusaders. Nobody knows what was brighter, the glorious Sunday Sun or the Zenkai Beers top but netherless, the game was underway.
The game started quickly with Zenkai taking an early lead with a try through the middle which was converted. Some fantastic pod work by the forwards gave the opening the Cru needed leading to a penalty close by the opposition try line. A classic Geo tap and go gave Cru their first try of the day. Zenkai responded by plucking a loose pass down the middle to score under the posts. A heroic last ditch tackle by George ensured Zenkai didn't push even further ahead.
These celebrations were short lived as the Cru struggled with the Zenkai Beers scrum leading to a turnover. A couple of Cru penalties later and the lead extended even further with another try by the Zenkai Beers. A try straight from the kick off by George was just the response that was needed alongside a successful conversion by Keegan.
The Zenkai Beers scrum dominance and some handling errors by the Cru allowed the Beers to score again right before HT meaning the teams went in at 26-12 at the break.
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Second Half - Crusaders fightback in vain against a strong Zenkai Beers outfit.
A rousing speech at HT was just what was needed as the second half began with the Cru trailing. Sadly the story of dropped passes mixed with the Zenkai Beers quick coverage at the breakdown continued as they extended their lead even further with some slick passing to score on the wing. This was quickly followed by another Zenkai Beers try through the middle. Even though behind, the Cru showed determination by not backing down. Some great pass and go movements followed by a solid break from Geo to score again for the Cru brough the game back to life, showing that 'Its not over till it's over'.
Many of us are still unsure what Geo was prouder of, the try or the conversion as he slotted it through the middle. A rare loose pass by the Zenkai Beers at a line out gave even further hope when it was snaffled by Keegan to score again for the Cru. The Cru tried to respond but a number of quick penalties gave the ball back. Sadly, the frustration of the clock dwingling down with still points to score was evident with Piers and George getting into handbags with the opposition and then a yellow for Tomo. The Beers made this count by scoring through the middle after a quick tap and go. Zenkai Beers scored again with a fantastic run from the kick off with some lovely handling work, spread play and nifty handling to finish the scoring right before the full time whistle.
A sad day at the office for the Cru who were beaten 52-24 by a slick and well-drilled Zenkai Beers who top the table....well done to them and we look forward to a rematch next year. A special mention to two new Cru members who made their debuts (David and Drew).
Furthermore, post game beers donated by our sponsors DD4D made our post game reflections even nicer. The support also from multiple friends, partners and families is always appreciated so thank you to for coming out and supporting the lads!!
Standout Performers
3-2-1 Player Points (Crusaders):
1. Geo (5) Crusaders MVP; 2 tries, kicked conversions and led from the front in the Crusaders fightback
2. George (4) - Solid runs, strong defence and topped off with a try.
3. Keegan (3)- Workhorse who kept plugging away and rewarded with a try.
4. Isak (2)- Had multiple guys on him but still managed to find yardage.
5. Michael (1) - Good runs, solid defence and pushed all the way until the end.
Scoring Summary
Crusaders 24 Tries: G.Louw (2), G.McIntyre, Keegan ; Conversions: G.Louw (2)
Dasewa 52 Tries (8) ; Conversions (6)
After Match
Soaking in the sun at the nearby park with beers donated by our fantastic sponsors DD4D. Big shout out to DD4D for letting us drown our sorrows but equally get psyched for next weekends epic game!!
Looking Ahead
Now it's time to lick up those wounds and get ready for the upcoming playoff game against the Donkeys. If this game doesn't get you psyched then nothing will. Let's go Cruuuuu!!!!
Match Report by Joshua Bateson
Crusaders vs. Dasewa RFC – 22/02/2026
Tokyo Crusaders with a solid 90-5 win at Mizumoto Sport Park over Dasewa to solidify position in Kashushika League.
Match Summary
Kashushika League – Round Two
WHEN: February 22 2026
WHERE: Mizumoto Sogo Sports Center
KICKOFF: 11:10
RESULT: Tokyo Crusaders 90 - 5 Dasewa RFC
The Crusaders scored fourteen tries, in a runaway effort to help out points difference and position on the table.
First-Half - Crusaders build a very strong lead
The Crusaders suffered an early setback with standout No. 12 Josh Bateson forced from the field with a serious injury. Our thoughts are with Josh in his recovery, and we look forward to seeing him back in blue soon.
Despite the disruption, the Cru responded immediately. The opening try came in just the 3rd minute, with VC Mortimer dotting over from fly-half. The try was converted by travelling Kiwi Arden — the first of many successful kicks on the day.
From there, the Crusade continued. The forwards laid a strong platform, and sustained possession allowed the team to build pressure through structured phase play and long-range counterattacks. An additional eight tries were scored before halftime, giving the Crusaders a commanding 61–5 lead at the break.
The tries were evenly shared between backs and forwards. R. Braithwaite, on tour from the UK, scoring on debut, while tight-head prop Shota produced a stunning 40-metre effort — perhaps making a case for a move to the wing.
Second Half - Changes and a Strong Finish
With a dominant first half behind them, the Crusaders made several substitutions. It took a short period for combinations to settle, but once they did, the tries began to flow again.
The Kiwi pairing of Arden and Keegan combined for three impressive long-range efforts. The Crusaders kept Dasewa scoreless in the second half, maintaining defensive intensity throughout.
The match concluded with a debut try for Marcos. M. Schimddy stepped up for the conversion but pushed it wide left from directly in front. Next time Schimmdy.
Overall, it was an excellent performance as the Crusaders continue their quest to win Division 2 of the league.
Standout Performers
3-2-1 Player Points (Crusaders):
1. Arden (5) Crusaders MVP; 2 tries and 10 conversions
2. J.Carter (4) Two tries with some great runs
3. G.Louw (3) Always strong and leading from the front
4. A.Boyle (2) An ageless performance at hooker from the old dog.
5. G.McIntyre (1) Again no surprises on the list as leading the forwards with some huge meters
Scoring Summary
Crusaders 90 (Tries: L.Mortimer, R. Braithwaite, D.Cleaney, G.Louw, S.Honjo, Arden(2), A.Boyle, J.Carter (2), G.McIntyre, Keegan (2), M.Mcaughey. Conversions Arden (10)
Dasewa 5 (No.14 Try)
After Match
The aftermatch organised by Juri was a raucous affair that kicked onto the sensational basement 300 bar in Ginza. Good yarns had all round.
Looking Ahead
The Tokyo Crusaders now face their final Kashushika round-robin match against Zenkai Beers and will be aiming to secure the title against a strong opponent.
Match Report by A.Boyle
Crusaders vs. Doronco – 1/02/2026
The Kashushika League kicked off for the Tokyo Crusaders with a strong 41–12 victory over Doronco at Mizumoto Sport Park.
Match Summary
Kashushika League – Round One
WHEN: February 1 2026
WHERE: Mizumoto Sogo Sports Center
KICKOFF: 11:10
RESULT: Tokyo Crusaders 41-12 Doronco
The Crusaders opened their league campaign with a composed and disciplined performance to secure a 41–12 win.
First-Half - A See-Saw Battle
The match began cautiously, with both teams feeling each other out. Doronco applied early pressure, but the Crusaders absorbed it well. Captain G. Louw opened the scoring in the 7th minute to put the Cru ahead, with J. Bateson adding the conversion to make it 7–0.
Doronco controlled territory for the next phase and responded with a try of their own, leveling the score at 7–7.
The Crusaders regained momentum following the restart. After sustained pressure and a dominant scrum, G. Louw crossed for his second try to restore the lead at 14–7
The Cru continued to apply pressure deep in Doronco territory. Another powerful scrum provided front-foot ball, and slick combination play between Mortimer and standout winger Piers led to a superb finish down the right flank.
Doronco refused to fade and struck just before halftime, closing the gap to 19–12 at the break
Second Half - Crusaders Take Control
After a competitive first half — and some firm words from el capitán — the Crusaders entered the second stanza determined to improve their control of possession.
G. McIntyre made a strong break that set up G. Louw to finish off well-worked play for the first try of the half. Continued pressure forced a Doronco scrum deep in their own half. The Crusaders pack secured a tighthead, and replacement Ramu powered over to extend the lead to a comfortable 31–12.
Doronco mounted a response and spent extended periods inside Crusaders territory. However, momentum swung back decisively following a long-range effort from the ever-dangerous M. Schimdt. Louw then capped off a dominant performance by crossing for his fourth try late in the match.
The final whistle confirmed a convincing 41–12 win, giving the Cru an ideal start to their Kashushika League campaign.
A shout out to all our off-field support staff especially Tooley and Miku. your help is always appreciated!
Standout Performers
3-2-1 Player Points (Crusaders):
1. G.Louw (5) Crusaders MVP; 4 tries and leading from the front
2. G.McIntyre (4) Storming running all match
3. J.Bateson (3) Played well and a solid effort with the boot
4. I.Faoa (2) A dominating scrum performance and some impressive general play as always
5. M.Schimdt (1) the everywhere man with a great long range effort to swing momentum back to the Cru
Scoring Summary
Crusaders 41 (Tries: G.Louw (4), P.Wilson, Ramu, M.Schimdt ; Conversions: J.Bateson (3)
Doronco 12 (2 Tries ; 1 Conversion)
After Match
Hama Sushi was the destination for the aftermatch, where the team enjoyed a memorable meal while reliving the day’s events.
Looking Ahead
The Tokyo Crusaders will look to build on this strong start as they head into three consecutive weekends of rugby, beginning with Dasewa on February 22.
Match Report by A.Boyle
Crusaders vs. Mita Club – 18/01/2026
Tokyo Crusaders produced a strong team performance to secure a 40–20 victory over Mita Club in the Shuto League on January 18, 2026, playing away at Tatsumi no Mori Ground.
The Crusaders combined pace, pressure, and an enormous bench to pull away from Mita Club in a match that showcased both back’s flair and forward’s dominance.
Match Summary
Shuto League – Round Fixture
WHEN: January 18, 2026
WHERE: Tatsumi no Mori Ground
KICKOFF: 14:20
RESULT: Tokyo Crusaders 40 – 20 Mita Club
The Crusaders scored six tries, delivering our most standout performance of Division Two of the Shuto League and securing our promotion back to Shuto League Division One.
First-Half - Crusaders Set the Tone
Your Tokyo Crusaders struck early, with self proclaimed honeybadger-chihuahua hybrid Chris Biagi opening the scoring in the 14th minute. Moments later, Captain Geo Louw at #10 scored again off of another huge sprint by Biagi that was once again converted by Josh “Das Boot” Bateson, surging the Crusaders into a two converted try early lead.
Mita struck back quickly thereafter. Using the uncontested scrums and great hands to spread the ball wide, they took advantage of Crusader post-holiday fitness levels and sloppy defending to add two tries to even the scoreline.
Plucky Yank John Carter secured his first yellow card on his debut in the Number 8 jersey. Penalties be damned, we still love you and your big energy John.
Second Half - Bench Depth and Backs Finish the Job
The second half highlighted the Crusaders’ squad depth. Captain Geo and Outside Center Gen Akiyama both notched the scoreboard up further. Beautiful hands from the backs squad allowed a gigantic giraffe gallop for George McIntyre to score his first Tokyo Crusaders try. Flying Fijian Meli Nawavatu, a newcomer to the Cru, scored the final and most beautiful try of the game, securing our own kickoff and bolting to the try line in a flash.
The forward pack laid a strong foundation throughout the game with the second row “Mac Pack” of McMillan and McIntyre putting in heavy minutes and securing the skies. Thanks to the early lead, almost the entire bench got playing time. Even former Crusaders stalwart Drew “Juice” Welch squeezed out a few minutes before Japanese Customs deported him back to America. Not because of his visa, but because of his comedy.
Mita Club continued to compete, but the Crusaders’ wore down the home team. Despite some guest appearances by Black Bunnies forwards, it wasn’t enough. Your Mighty Cru took home the victory.
Standout Performers
3-2-1 Player Points (Crusaders):
1. Biagi (5) Crusaders MVP; try scored and hustled at fullback
2. Louw (4) Two tries and constant attacking threat at flyhalf shows why he’s El Capitan
3. McIntyre (3) Second row stalwart who scored his first Crusader’s try
4. Sawada (2) Honeybadger DGAF and played the violin after. How talented is this man?
5. Schmid (1) The Deutschlander from Down Unda’ put in a huge shift at flanker
Aftermatch
WAG of the decade Miku Takahashi secured a great Yakitori spot near Hibiya. Festivities continued at the nijikai at HUB where a dashing Japanese fellow handed out free baseball hats and tried to restrain his girlfriend from sinking her claws into the Cru.
Looking Ahead
The win provided strong momentum for the Crusaders as we head into the Katsushika spring league. New and old opponents alike await and a chance to prove our mettle once again.
Players interested in joining an amateur rugby club in Tokyo are encouraged to get in touch and attend a training session. Follow us on Instagram @tokyocrusadersrfc for the latest news and training information.
Match Report by Andrew McMillan
Crusaders vs. All France – 16/02/2025
The final game of the 2024/25 Shuto League was against our close rivals, All France. Although the match had no impact on the championship standings, there was a strong desire to finish with a victory.
The game took place at the magnificent Inagi Ngamie Ground on an overcast but reasonably warm day for mid-February.
The Crusaders started well, applying sustained pressure deep in All France’s territory. A crunching tackle by Izak set the tone for a physical match. Unfortunately, the Crusaders struggled with discipline and set pieces, leading to turnovers that gifted All France possession and territory.
All France capitalized on this opportunity, opening the scoring with a penalty to take a 3-0 lead after about 15 minutes.
The game entered a holding period, with the Crusaders threatening through some strong backs play led by Geo and Liam at positions 10 and 12. However, we failed to sustain possession and consequently struggled to convert our chances into points. Once again, due to poor discipline and turnovers, All France secured decent possession, culminating in another penalty that extended their lead to 6-0 midway through the first half. After some back-and-forth play, All France scored a long-range converted try just before halftime, stretching their lead to 13-0.
The Crusaders began the second half with strong territory and possession. After spending some time in All France’s half, they were awarded a penalty close to the line. In a moment of great initiative, Geo took a quick tap and scored. Unfortunately, as he dived for the line, his legs were taken out from under him, resulting in an injury, but the Crusaders were back in the game.
A few costly turnovers and a well-executed blindside play by All France led to a try near the end of the match, effectively sealing the contest with All France securing an 18-5 victory.
Full credit and congratulations to All France, who played a more consistent game overall and capitalised on their chances. The match was solidly officiated and played in a good spirit between two evenly matched teams. The Crusaders have some areas to work on moving forward but can take heart from the physicality displayed and the contributions of new players.
Match Summary
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All France: 18 (2 Tries, 1 Conversion, & 2 Penalties)
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Crusaders: 5 (1 Try – G. Louw)
Crusaders 3-2-1 Points:
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Geo Louw: 5
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Luke Mathers: 4
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Izak Faoa: 3
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George McIntyre: 2
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Reece Morgan: 1
All France MVP (as voted by the Crusaders):
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Paul Iturbide
Crusaders MVP (as voted by All France):
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Geo Louw
Match Report by Alex Boyle
Year in Review - 2023/2024 Season - By Reece Morgan
This year’s season has very much been one of two halves: strong frontloading of matches (and silverware!) to start, but a slight damp squib to close. That said, the level of gameplay, two tours, and a whole host of great socials meant that it’s been another year to remember. To that end, it’s worth reflecting on our achievements and where we’ll go next.
Shuto League
After missing out on Shuto gold last season, becoming king of the mountain again was our aim — and one that we achieved in serious style. Not only did we storm the division and win every single game, but three of those fixtures were clean sheets. Most impressive of all has to be the drubbing inflicted upon Kichijoji Wild Turkey: no doubt remembering their victory over us last year, they put the fabled Turkey Cup on the line…and lost it in a 73-0 blowout. With great matches and plenty of fantastic gameplay on show, our successful Shuto portion of the season set a high mark for what was to follow.
Mac Cup
The presence of Gareth’s family imbued this year’s Mac Cup fixture with real poignancy, and we were proud to reflect that in a number of ways. Bringing Old Boys into the starting squad, for instance, meant that those who played with Gareth stood alongside those who hadn’t even been born at the time of his passing, creating a meaningful bridge between past, present, and future. Sharing a bench between the two sides also meant that many Crusaders donned the dark blue YCAC jerseys for the first time, creating a spirit of camaraderie that would no doubt have put a smile on Gareth’s face. While we were blessed to bring the trophy home once again, the real treasure was the spirit of rugby that both sides
could enjoy.
We look forward to welcoming the family back whenever they’d like to make another trip, as
there’ll always be a place for them within the Crusaders.
Katsushika League
Our first foray into the Katsushika League was a mixed bag. Receiving notice of our inclusion just a week before the first game led to a mad scramble to figure things out, not least because of the exodus of team members to snowier climes. While the opening fixtures did not go our way, there was plenty to take away: younger, less experienced players stepped up and started to build their skills, leading to a fairly under-strength squad turning over the mighty Superman in a fantastic fixture. The game against the Black Bunnies was an absolute nail-biter, with some of the best play that we strung together all season, and a fitting way to round things off.
Tokyo Cup(?)
Disappointingly, the Tokyo Cup run for which we were so excited never came to pass. The new rules regarding foreign player registration amounted to a breach of civil liberties, leading to our difficult decision to turn down our spot. We hope that the committee will review their regulations in the coming season.
That said, the new Harbour Cup — a joint venture with the YCAC — is set to kick off this coming season…watch this space!
Tour!
Pushing hard on our touring schedule, we were lucky to secure an international appearance: the Bali Memorial Tour to Hong Kong. Of course, what happens on tour must stay there, but suffice it to say that everyone had a cracker. While our tour to Hokkaido is still two months away, I have no doubt that we’ll have a blast, and give the Barbarians something to write home about!
Moving Forward
As we move into the 2024/5 season, it’s important to consider what approaches to take to maximise not just the success of the team, but the enjoyment of all its members:
● As ever, take Shuto seriously as our ‘big’ league
● Be realistic in our expectations for Katsushika, given how big a bite skiing takes out
of the roster
● Smash the first ever Harbour Cup and look to take home the gold
● Focus on our four core socials, and really push the ‘third half’
● Make the inaugural Cru 10s Invitational a roaring success
With a new league, a China tour, a brand new 10s tournament, and more on the horizon, it’s set to be a landmark season for the boys in sky blue. Let the crusade continue!
