Oxford and Kobe Rugby Links Continue

The links between Oxford and Kobe rugby have been very strong ever since the Japanese company Kobe Steel started to look to recruit Oxford graduate rugby players from the late 1970s onwards.  Reg Clark (1978-79) played for Kobe Steel from 1980 to 1983; he was preceded by Phil Woodhead (1975) and succeeded by Simon Wensley (1988), Ian Williams (1988), Mark Egan (1988-89-90) and David Henderson (1993-4) – the latter two both OURFC captains. During this period the 'Steelers' won 7 consecutive Japanese championships and Maru Hayashi (1990) from the club became the first Japanese national to win a Blue.

Please see below extracts from the 1990 Men's tour to East Asia, including a match against Kobe Steel.

Reg rejoined Kobe Steel in London from 1988 to 1997 as European Finance Director and during this period the company sponsored the Stanley’s Match for 10 years and were significant donors to the Major Stanleys Scholarship Trust. Dozens of Stanleys Scholars from this era owe their time at Oxford to the Japanese industrial giant, who continue to this day to contest for top honours in Japan – currently under the guidance of Dave Rennie,  who leaves them in June to take up the All Blacks coaching job.

Now the baton has been taken up by an Oxford Blue in women's rugby - Sky Stewart-Roberts.  The Watanabe family, who are great rugby fans and strong supporters of the Steelers, has run the Kobe-based water transportation company Hayakoma since 1885, and has in recent years established the Kobe Fast Gyro women's rugby team (‘Fast Gyro’ being a literal translation of Hayakoma – referring to a nautical compass). Their son Ryu played for Shelford for some months earlier this season and represented the Penguins XV against the Blues in October.

Sky ended up sitting on Reg Clark’s table at the Vincent’s Dinner last November and having mentioned that she will be in Japan for some months working in ski hospitality in Hokkaido, Reg, having got to know the Watanabe family, suggested she consider playing for a spell for Kobe Fast Gyro before coming home.  Having taken a break in Hong Kong to play for OURFC during their tour, she recently arrived in Kobe and has already made a great impression on and off the pitch with the ambitious KFG set up.

In a little known aside to all these historical ties,  there exists the Oxford Kobe Scholarship programme at the university,  endowed by Kobe Steel via St Catherine’s College in 1994 for postgraduate study by Japanese nationals.  Over 80 scholars have passed through the programme and the highest-ranking scholar each year now receives the Ambassador Katsuhiko Oku Scholarship named in honour of the first Japanese national to represent the Blues XV, in 1982-83, who was tragically killed on diplomatic duty with the UN post-war reconstruction programme in Iraq in 2001.

Please see below the press release from Kobe Fast Gyro about Sky's impact at their club.

From the World to Kobe, From Kobe to the World:

A New Force Joins Kobe Fast Gyro from Oxford, UK

We are delighted to announce that Kobe Fast Gyro has welcomed a new member, Sky Stewart-Roberts, a women’s rugby player from the United Kingdom. Sky researched into Biology at New College, University of Oxford, graduating with First Class Honours in her integrated Master’s degree. She is an individual of exceptional intellect and curiosity. In rugby, she played for the prestigious Oxford University Rugby Football Club (OURFC), a team with over 150 years of history and tradition, and being

a member of the women’s top squad, the Blues.

As a first-team player, she has competed in the historic Oxford–Cambridge Varsity Match, achieving victory twice and earning the distinguished title of “2-Time Blue”—a true embodiment of both

athletic excellence and academic distinction.

The title “Blue” is an honour awarded only to outstanding athletes at Oxford and Cambridge. For Sky, having achieved this title twice, and now, travelling from the home of rugby in the UK to join Kobe Fast Gyro among many possible teams worldwide is a tremendous honour for us and a truly irreplaceable connection.

On-Field Impact

Sky has also been selected as a member of the Blues squad for the prestigious Hong Kong International Rugby Tens (HKFC 10s), gaining valuable experience on the international stage.

Since joining Kobe Fast Gyro, she made an immediate impact, scoring an impressive debut try by running into space and finishing decisively after receiving a pass. She followed this with another try in the subsequent match, bringing great inspirations, confidence, and new possibilities to the team.

A Bridge Between Cultures Through Rugby

During training sessions and matches, our players actively communicate with Sky, learning from one another. Beyond differences in language, culture, and upbringing, they stand together on the same field, striving toward a shared goal, connecting both physically and emotionally. Through this, we are reminded of rugby’s unique abilities to transcend borders and unite people.

Kobe Fast Gyro is a team rooted in the rugby culture of Kobe city in Hyogo prefecture, dedicated to promoting women’s rugby, developing players, and contributing to the local community. The team’s name “Gyro” is derived from the gyroscopic compass that ensures safe navigation at sea. From the port city of Kobe, we aspire to remain steadfast in our beliefs, never losing sight of our direction, and to move forward swiftly, powerfully, and continuously into the future. This philosophy is embodied in the name Kobe Fast Gyro.

Sky’s presence is not merely the addition of a foreigner player. It represents a new bridge connecting Kobe and the United Kingdom, an embodiment of international exchange through rugby, and a symbolic step forward for Kobe Fast Gyro onto the global stage.

Toward the Future

From Kobe to the world. From women’s rugby to the future. And from Kobe Fast Gyro to a new form of international exchange.

Cherishing this special connection brought together by the oval ball, we warmly welcome Sky as a member of our rugby family. Together, players, staffs, and all those involved will unite as one to build a team that Kobe—and indeed the world—can be proud of. We sincerely appreciate your continued attention to Kobe Fast Gyro’s journey and your warm support and encouragement!