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KOBE REGATTA & ATHLETIC CLUB (Japan)

The Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club (KRAC) is a mainly foreigner’s sporting club in Kobe City, Japan. The KRAC has existed for over 138 years, and was one of the first clubs to play cricket in Japan, still enjoying a healthy rivalry today with the YCAC in Yokohama which has lasted now for over 100 years.

The KRAC side made their debut at Hong Kong last year but probably made more of an impact at the auction and on the streets of Wan Chai than on the field of play. This year the KRAC team is unfortunately missing the services of their entire aussie contingent as Robb, Dirty Simon and Jezza have all gone walkabout. However, you don’t hear the Kiwi boys complaining and with their young Scot to prop up the bar and a bit of Sub continent spice in the form of Big Roni and his mystery mates from Korea the KRAC team will be looking to again perform on and off the field. The team members we do know for sure are:

Russell Forsyth
Kiwi, 3rd tour of HK 6s. Fearless left handed opening batsman, wily slow medium r/h bowler and handy backstop. ‘Rusty’ distinguishes himself often with drunken nights that he can’t remember, which also seems to include who bought the porn magazine and various dropped catches.

Kirk Gibson
Kiwi, HK 6s 2nd year Vet. Very wily left hand spin-bowler and handy LH middle order bat. Former KRAC captain now residing in Auckland and playing social business house cricket with his old team mate from KRAC cricket days.

Dave Hodges
Kiwi, another HK 2nd year Vet. Clever middle order LH bat, medium pace bowler, and impenetrable catcher. ‘Buckets’ not only is the ultimate team man, he is also a quiet achiever, likely to be propping up the bar with the sparrows and still turning up before everyone else fresh as a daisy. Hands and stomach are made of soft steel.

Neil MacGregor
Scotsman, another on his 2nd tour; Tough talking, Big hitting RH bat and fiery RH fast/medium bowler. ‘Fireboy’ is very keen to add to his football shirt collection and is hoping Diego’s shirt is up for auction this year!

Roni Ryu
Pakistani, via Korea, 2nd year also. Big drinking; even bigger hitting RH bat, RH bowler and great outfield catcher. ‘Big Roni’ lives in Korea, helping the Korean National team from time to time, but spends half of his time playing cricket in Japan, and the other half keeping the crowd happy with his dancing and jokes in four languages.

The boys from Kobe will also be joined by some mystery players, so much a mystery we still don’t know who they are!! Disappointed not to go further in last year’s event after finding the wonders of Wan Chai’s, KRAC will be hoping that they can stay focused on the cricket (unlikely...) and not run out of gas at this year’s tourney. No doubt keeping the fluid levels up will be the key for this thirsty squad! 

Mystery Players ; Tauseef Bukhari & Rizwan Sattar