The GM Cup

The Gareth MacFadyen Cup, more commonly known as the GM Cup, is a perpetual local derby-style memorial rugby union match contested on an annual basis since 2001 in Tokyo, Japan, between the two leading foreign rugby teams in Japan: the Tokyo Crusaders and the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club.

The match is played in memoriam of Gareth MacFadyen (1976-2000), a young New Zealander who was a successful, young stockbroker and a leading player for both rugby teams in Japan during the period 1996-2000.

The Cup matches have seen some tightly-fought battles over the years, but none closer than the Crusaders' thrilling comeback to win the 2007 GM Cup by one point, after having trailed YCAC by 18 points with less than 15 minutes to play.

Gareth MacFadyen

Gareth MacFadyen's death in 2000 was widely reported through the Japanese, New Zealander and rugby news media for its untimely and unfortunate circumstances.[1]

He died from extensive burns suffered as a result of being set alight while in costume as a prank during a Christmas work party by a colleague. His colleague was subsequently jailed for two years on the charge of manslaughter in New Zealand in 2001.[2]

Gareth MacFadyen was known for playing for both the Tokyo Crusaders and the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club rugby teams, which are considered traditional rivals in the greater Tokyo region.

The Tokyo Crusaders rugby club retired their number 8 jumper (Gareth's preferred playing number) as a mark of respect in 2001.

History of the Cup

The Gareth MacFadyen cup was designed in Brisbane, Australia and made in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2001 as a result of sizeable charitable donations made by Tokyo Crusaders and YCAC club members.

The trophy is a sterling silver cup with winged floral handles on a polished hardwood base, measuring some 60 centimetres in height and surmounted by a golden crusader figurine.

The concepts of a trophy and memorial grudge match were proposed by members of the Tokyo Crusaders rugby club.

The trophy match itself is traditionally held at the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club's ground in Yamate and is played under standard international rugby rules.

Both sides contest the memorial trophy with the winner of the match retaining the right to hold and display the trophy.

Previous years events have seen the MacFadyen family flown out to Japan from New Zealand to present the winning team with the Cup.

In the years since its inception, it has become widely regarded as the most important and prestigious rugby event in the foreign community calendar in Japan.[3]

Previous GM Cup winners and scores
DateWinning teamScore
March 2001Tokyo Crusaders6-5
January 2002YCAC10-5
December 2002YCAC45-14
December 2003Tokyo Crusaders35-10
November 2004YCAC18-14
November 2005Tokyo Crusaders31-5
November 2006YCAC22-19
February 2007YCAC45-17
November 2007Tokyo Crusaders33-32
November 2008YCAC55-12
November 2009YCAC42-17
November 2010YCAC24-17
November 2011YCAC27-12
November 2012YCAC62-5
November 2013YCAC52-7
November 2014YCAC61-21
November 2015Tokyo Crusaders38-29
November 2016YCAC36-12
November 2017YCAC64-7
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References
  1. www.rugbyrugby.com
  2. Brown, Jo-Marie (25 April 2001). "Family want to hear 'sorry'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  3. www.yomiuri.co.jp
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