At the end of June, All France Rugby Club escaped Tokyo for one of the most unusual weekends on our calendar: Tambo Rugby in Hakuba.
On Saturday, 27 June, the rugby pitch was replaced by a flooded rice field. The format is simple: four players a side, touch rugby, seven-minute games and a lot more effort than it sounds when every step means pulling your feet out of the mud. Bonus points for diving tries only add to the chaos.
Between splashes, slips and plenty of laughter, AFRC worked its way through the tournament and reached the final. We did not bring the trophy back to Tokyo, but by that point everyone was already covered from head to toe in mud and the result felt almost secondary.
Back at the hotel, the onsen took care of the mud before the evening moved into a proper AFRC third half: barbecue, drinks, a paquito and a long night with friends. It was exactly the mix of rugby and conviviality that makes these weekends special.
Sunday slowed things down with time by the lake, a French-style mâchon, pétanque and one last chance to enjoy Hakuba before heading back to Tokyo.
A big thank-you to Ian and everyone who helped make the weekend happen. Tambo Rugby may be played in a rice field, but the best part was everything around it: teammates, friends, food and a very good reason to leave the city for a couple of days.
See you next year, Hakuba.
