Japan Cup name - guessing its 'cos a team from Japan entered, or it's some sort of Ashvegas sister-city thing? Come on in AshVegas people and put the facts straight before wild speculation takes over. On this forum?
[/QUOTE]
I'm not from Ashburton, but this piece in the Guardian explains the absence of Japanese teams this year due to Japanese earthquakes and tsunami (the disaster, not the U-19 tournament):
https://www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz/news/sports-news/4646-tourney-goes-on-despite-japans-no-show.html
and this item from Mid Canterbury football:
https://www.midcanterburyfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=279
[QUOTE]...the Japan/New Zealand tournament in Ashburton which attracts three teams from Japan and thirteen teams from around the South Island. Every second year the Mid Canterbury team travels to Japan to play.
I'm not from Ashburton, but this piece in the Guardian explains the absence of Japanese teams this year due to Japanese earthquakes and tsunami (the disaster, not the U-19 tournament):
https://www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz/news/sports-news/4646-tourney-goes-on-despite-japans-no-show.html
and this item from Mid Canterbury football:
https://www.midcanterburyfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=279
[QUOTE]...the Japan/New Zealand tournament in Ashburton which attracts three teams from Japan and thirteen teams from around the South Island. Every second year the Mid Canterbury team travels to Japan to play.