A Brief History of London Japanese Rugby Football Club

The London Japanese Rugby Football Club ("LJRFC”, or commonly known as "LonJapa”) was founded in 1979 by the rugby lovers amongst Japanese expatriates in London. The first match was played against a touring Japanese side in 1980, but the club soon started playing regular fixtures with the local sides.

The 2004-2005 season marks the 25th anniversary of LJRFC. In the course of its 25-year history, LJRFC has offered many opportunities to enjoy rugby in the UK and foster friendship between Japanese and British rugby players at all levels. Some were veterans of the international rugby scenes. Mr Shukuzawa, who was the first skipper of LJRFC, later became a head coach for the Japanese International side and lead the famous victory against Scottish international in 1990.

Many of the LJRFC members have now returned to Japan and continue to enjoy rugby with the LJRFC family. Hence, London Japanese RFC Tokyo ("LonJapa Tokyo") has become more active over the years. More recently, LonJapa Tokyo toured in Fukuoka (March 2003), Osaka (March 2004) and Hong Kong (September 2004) to reunite with old friends in those cities and extend our grass roots rugby network.

Please see the photo above taken in Fukuoka in March 2003 and note that Mr Hayashi, ex Japan international and the first Japanese to become an Oxford Blue, still plays for us occasionally.

Website of Mr Hayashi: http://www.t-hayashi.jp/index.html