Japan trim squad ahead of Canada trip

Mark Hammett has named a 33-strong training group for Japan’s final preparations for their one-off test at BC Place in Vancouver on June 11 and the two-match series against Scotland following. Injuries have ruled out captain Michael Leitch and fullback Ayumu Goromaru, while Hosea Saumaki’s eligibility request was, as expected, denied by World Rugby on account of his previous appearance for Tonga’s 7s side. A further seven player were cut from the original 43-man list, with all now on standby.

Notable inclusions are Aviva Premiership pair Kensuke Hatakeyama and Amanaki Mafi, while numerous Super Rugby stars from both the Sunwolves and elsewhere are present. Queensland Reds flanker Hendrik Tui and Highlanders scrumhalf Fumiaki Tanaka are named, as is outstanding World Cup midfielder Harumichi Tatekawa. Uncapped players are flanker Yoshiya Hosoda, scrumhalf Kaito Shigeno, flyhalf Rikiya Matsuda, and outside backs Mifiposeti Paea and Yasutaka Sasakura.

A captain has not yet been named, with veteran hooker Shota Horie thought to be in consideration along with Hatakeyama and Tanaka. The final traveling team to head to Canada will be named next week.

FORWARDS
Kensuke Hatakeyama (Newcastle Falcons), Keita Inagaki (Sunwolves), Shinnosuke Kakinaga (Sunwolves), Masataka Mikami (Sunwolves), Shota Horie (Sunwolves), Takeshi Kizu (Sunwolves), Futoshi Mori (Sunwolves), Naohiro Kotaki (Toshiba), Hitoshi Ono (Sunwolves), Kazuhiko Usami (Sunwolves), Kotaro Yatabe (Panasonic), Taiyo Ando (Sunwolves), Yoshida Hosoda (Sunwolves), Hendrik Tui (Reds), Hiroki Yamamoto (Toshiba), Koliniasi Holani (Panasonic), Amanaki Mafi (Bath)

BACKS
Kaito Shigeno (Sunwolves), Fumiaki Tanaka (Highlanders), Keisuke Uchida (Panasonic), Rikiya Matsuda (Teikyo), Kosei Ono (Suntory), Yu Tamura (Sunwolves), Tim Bennetts (Canon), Ryoto Nakamura (Suntory), Male Sa’u (Blues), Harumichi Tatekawa (Sunwolves), Karne Hesketh (Sanix), Kentaro Kodama (Panasonic), Kotaro Matsushima (Rebels), Mifiposeti Paea (Sunwolves), Ryuji Noguchi (Tokai), Yasutaka Sasakura (Sunwolves)