Japan trims squad for Pacific Nations Cup

Japan coach Jamie Joseph has trimmed his Japan squad to 31 players for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup. While not the final cut for the World Cup, it casts doubt on the hopes of those left out though Joseph has clarified that some players have been rested.

Two who are no longer in consideration for September are second row Grant Hattingh and loose forward Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco. The former has withdrawn from the squad with injury while the latter has been ruled ineligible with his residency requirements not fulfilled until after the tournament.

A number of experienced props have been left out with some struggling with minor injuries though none are reportedly in danger of missing RWC 2019. Toyota Verblitz loosehead Shogo Miura has been called in from outside the original squad of 42, with his uncapped teammate Yusuke Kizu getting the nod at tighthead ahead of the RWC 2015 starter Hiroshi Yamashita.

The other new caps are Sunwolves pair James Moore and Lappies Labuschagne, both of whom qualify after living in Japan for more than three years. Moore could find himself alongside 38-year-old Luke Thompson in the second row, while Labuschagne is one of seven loose forwards named including captain Michael Leitch and Sunwolves star Amanaki Mafi.

Only one player currently based outside Japan is named – Chiefs winger Ata’ata Moeakiola – though he plays his club rugby for the Kobelco Steelers. Nearly half the squad were Super Rugby regulars this season with 14 Sunwolves included.

The Brave Blossoms open their PNC against Fiji in Kamaishi on July 27, followed by matches against Tonga in Osaka and a neutral-venue clash against the USA in Suva. A detailed squad list can be seen here.

FORWARDS
Keita Inagaki (Panasonic Wild Knights), Yusuke Kizu (Toyota Verblitz), Shogo Miura (Toyota Verblitz), Asaeli Valu (Panasonic Wild Knights / Sunwolves), Shota Horie (Panasonic Wild Knights / Sunwolves), Kosuke Horikoshi (Suntory Sungoliath), Atsushi Sakate (Panasonic Wild Knights / Sunwolves), Uwe Helu (Yamaha Jubilo / Sunwolves), James Moore (Sanix Blues / Sunwolves), Luke Thompson (Kintetsu Liners / Sunwolves), Wimpie van der Walt (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes), Kazuki Himeno (Toyota Verblitz), Lappies Labuschagne (Kubota Spears), Michael Leitch (capt., Toshiba Brave Lupus), Amanaki Mafi (NTT Shining Arcs / Sunwolves), Shunsuke Nunomaki (Panasonic Wild Knights), Yoshitaka Tokunaga (Toshiba Brave Lupus / Sunwolves), Hendrik Tui (Suntory Sungoliath / Sunwolves)

BACKS
Yutaka Nagare (Suntory Sungoliath), Kaito Shigeno (Toyota Verblitz / Sunwolves), Fumiaki Tanaka (Canon Eagles / Sunwolves), Rikiya Matsuda (Panasonic Wild Knights / Sunwolves), Yu Tamura (Canon Eagles / Sunwolves), Timothy Lafaele (Kobelco Steelers), Ryoto Nakamura (Suntory Sungoliath), Will Tupou (Coca-Cola Red Sparks), Kenki Fukuoka (Panasonic Wild Knights), Lomano Lemeki (Honda Heat), Ata’ata Moeakiola (Kobelco Steelers / Chiefs, NZ), Kotaro Matsushima (Suntory Sungoliath), Ryohei Yamanaka (Kobelco Steelers / Sunwolves)

FIXTURES
July 27 – vs Fiji (Kamaishi)
Aug 3 – vs Tonga (Osaka)
Aug 10 – vs USA (Suva)