Travis Dixon – Fly Half

I’ve been playing rugby since I was four but gave it up for a while to focus on a basketball career. After I realised that it was difficult to make it in the big time being a tiny, white guy, I decided to come back to rugby. I made my debut for the Cru about five years ago after realising that the team strikes a great balance between on the field commitment, off the field carousing,… and practice time (i.e. next to none).

  • Nationality: New Zealand
  • Occupation: Teacher
  • Age: 32
  • Height: 180 cm
  • Weight: 89 kg
  • Quote of the season: “If it was me standing next to me, I would pass it more.”
  • Honor: Club MVP 2013-14 / 2014-15 season
award_SeanG

Sean Gibson – Back Row, Lock

I have been playing rugby with the Crusaders continuously since I first moved to Tokyo in 1996. Many people have come and gone during that time and many things have changed, but the one constant is the quality of the players over the years, both on and off the pitch. I started rugby in university in the US and have been passionate about the game ever since.

  • Nationality: USA
  • Occupation: Finance
  • Age: 45
  • Height: 183 cm
  • Weight: 83 kg
  • Joined: 1996
  • Nickname: Gibbo
  • Honor: Clubman of the Year 2016-17 / Ironman Cru 2017-18

Gareth Jenner – Center

Starting rugby at the age of 13 was one of the greatest decision I have ever made as it allowed me to pretend I was athletic whilst pursuing my love of eating (and later drinking) unlike my previous hobby of swimming. I carried on both the rugby and drinking at the University of Brighton but a spinal injury in my second year allowed me to dedicate myself to the latter activity. I wasn’t expecting to find a team so far from home that felt just like my previous rugby life, but then I met the Crusaders.

  • Nationality: British
  • Occupation: Education
  • Age: 26
  • Height: 176 cm
  • Weight: 107 kg
  • Joined: 2017

David Limin – Utility Back

I Joined the Crusaders at the end of November 2017. I got to know the group through a member that I knew from Cricket and I haven’t looked back since! The boys have been very welcoming and a great fun to be around. As someone whose background is League and not Union, I found the rules to be confusing and to this day, still don’t know why I would get penalised but the after match parties are always a blast and I hope more people would join this team as its got a good culture and run by people who care about the sport.

  • Nationality: Australia
  • Occupation: Education
  • Age: 29
  • Height: 172 cm
  • Weight: 85 kg
  • Joined: 2017

Hirokatsu Mori – Tighthead Prop

I have been playing rugby when I was 19. (It’s actually late start) After graduated the university, I had not been played rugby. But someday I got phone from strange man(It’s Genta) and he said me “I found crazy rugby team, Let’s play rugby!” And then I joined Cru from Feb, 2016. Even didn’t play rugby for a long time, I always think about rugby. Almost every week we play rugby (and drink), it sounds tough but really enjoyable. Why don’t you play rugby with us? You will also get phone from”strange man ” like my situation.

  • Nationality: Japan
  • Occupation: Sales in Food Industry
  • Age: 33
  • Height: 176 cm
  • Weight: 95 kg
  • Joined: 2016
  • Nickname: Ramen boy

Owen Morris – Scrum Half

Blurb – Played rugby when I was younger but then stopped when I was 16, preferring field hockey which turned out to be even more violent. Started back up when I arrived in Japan, first with YCAC for a season but was then coaxed across to Tokyo Crusaders with promises of riches and wenches. Never mind. It’s fun playing for the Cru anyway

  • Nationality: British
  • Occupation: Fire Engineer
  • Age: 35
  • Height: 179 cm
  • Weight: 83 kg
  • Joined: 2016
  • Honor: Best humour 2017-18 season

Takaaki Ohnuma – Wing

I met Crusaders at the Gaienmae HUB after San Wolves’ first victory. I am a rugby beginner, but I’ve been interested in rugby for a long time and decided to play. Crusaders welcomed me who is a beginner pleasantly. This year goal is I get first try in my career.

  • Nationality: Japan
  • Occupation: Sales in Engineering
  • Age: 31
  • Height: 168 cm
  • Weight: 70 kg
  • Joined: 2016
  • Nickname: Taka

Frank Saffery – 2nd Row

First picked up a rugby ball aged 8 and still, to this day, thoroughly love the game and the awesome social aspect of it. Rugby has a camaraderie you will not find with any other sport. At the moment, I’m happily playing my weekends and organising the Crusaders social events. It’s a bit different playing in Japan compared to England, but Rugby is Rugby and I’m just happy to be able to play.

  • Nationality: England
  • Occupation: Researcher
  • Age: 31
  • Height: 203 cm
  • Weight: 104 kg
  • Joined: 2012

Junki Wada – Prop

I started playing rugby in 2004 when I was in high school. I have been playing the sport for 15+ years since then. Cru brings us good opportunities in life to have fun, study English and enjoy drinking.

  • Nationality: Japan
  • Occupation: Looking for a good one
  • Age: 31
  • Height: 182 cm
  • Weight: 103 kg
  • Joined: 2017
  • Nickname: J
rob

Rob Galbraith – Flanker/Loose Forward

I joined the Cru in May 2014 after 6 years with London Japanese RFC. I was really taken by the friendliness of the club on and off the field, as well as the humility of the players during games, despite being able to rack up some large scores in my first few games. It took a while to deal with the tropical conditions of playing in the searing heat and humidity of Summer – not easy when you`ve been playing in overcast and damp England all your life!

I started playing rugby at the age of 10 after my parents decided they’d had enough of me in Japan and shipped me out to boarding school in Rugby, England. Took a “sabbatical” for a few years at Uni after flirting briefly with football and then realizing I was awful at it. Great to be back playing, and with such a great bunch of guys.

  • Nationality: English/Japanese
  • Occupation: Accountant
  • Age: 30
  • Height: 180 cm
  • Weight: 81 kg
Benjamin Kunde - Tokyo Crusaders

Benjamin Kunde – Fullback / Wing

Started playing at 7 years old or so. Despite my garden gnome size, my father decided rugby would be a worthwhile pursuit for me. I have always been the light-weight of the team and so have gotten used to it. That probably rings true off the pitch also. If I start to reach for the rum or the whiskey it’s all downhill from there (as some of you have already witnessed). But I do enjoy a post-game pint and a chat about the game or how your days’ve been. Looking forward to a big season and hopefully a few new stories to tell. I played for my school: Marist College Ashgrove, and club team: GPS Gallopers, and now: The Tokyo Crusaders.

  • Nationality: Australian
  • Occupation: Teacher
  • Height: 179 cm
  • Weight: 62 kg
–>