Happy New Year!
The year 2025 has just started. Every SIRC family must be welcoming the New Year with a fresh start and new resolve.
This is the first newsletter of the year.
Norman McElhenny as new President
At the SIRC board meeting held at the end of last year, Norman McElhenny, who had been the Vice-President, was newly elected as President. The previous President, Will Hill, was unable to continue in the position due to work and family commitments, and so the baton was passed to Norman. Norman has also been the head coach of Junior Samurai for many years.
In addition, Duncan Gray has been newly elected as Vice President. Duncan is the Vice-Principal of the British School in Tokyo and has been the head coach of Shogun. Let’s make 2025 a better year under the leadership of these two new leaders.
Here is a message from President Norman.
Greetings from President
Here’s wishing everyone at SIRC a very happy New Year may 2025 be filled with exciting opportunities and great achievements.
As we move into 2025 I look forward to SIRC continuing to grow and go from strength to strength as we continue with our motto of “Make friends globally through Rugby”.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my predecessor, Will for his tireless efforts and unbridled passion to making SIRC the fantastic club it is today and I look forward to continuing the good work.
Norman McLhenny
President
Shibuya International Rugby Club
New Class Opening at Azabudai
The first practice of the new year will be on January 12th.
As the U4-U6 class at the Azabudai Campus has already reached its capacity, we will be opening another U6 class in the afternoon. The head coach is Ms. Michaela Holt from South Africa, and the class will be held on Sunday afternoons from 12:30 to 13:45.
The class will be mainly for U4 children, but U5-U6 children are also welcome to attend if they wish.
Introducing the ‘My Ball’ System
We have recently decided to introduce the ‘My Ball’ system for younger children. This is an initiative where students bring their own balls (My Balls) to class for practice, rather than storing practice balls in a warehouse which is already full. From January, this will be implemented in all classes at Showa Super Ninja and Azabudai. We would appreciate your cooperation.
Special Events in January and February
Australian Raptors Rugby Festival
The Australian U12 Raptors Rugby Academy, which visited Japan last September, will be returning to Japan at the end of January to play a series of friendly matches at the YCAC ground in Yokohama from Saturday 25th to Sunday 26th January. Shogun will be participating on Saturday 25th, and Samurai on Sunday 26th.
The 2nd SIRC CUP
The 2nd SIRC CUP will be held at Nagasawa Ground on Sunday 26th January. This tournament, which SIRC has been organising since last year for high school club teams like the Shibuya Colts, will this year feature joint teams from Fukuoka Youth Club, Kobe SCIX and Kanagawa Eboshi Club.
As there are not enough high school club teams around the country, this year we will be holding the tournament with the help of neighbouring high school teams that we usually play friendly matches with.
SIRC Girls’ Rugby Festival
In April 2022, SIRC established a team made up of only girls called the “Reds”, and in May of the same year, we held the “Girls Festival” in Nagasawa. This year, the festival will be held on Saturday 22nd February 2025, for the first time in almost three years. The coaches of the Reds are currently planning an event to create opportunities for girls who currently enjoy rugby to interact with each other and to increase the number of girls who enjoy rugby. We will let you know when the details are finalised.
