Japan Names Squad for 2019 Rugby World Cup
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On August 29, the Japan Rugby Football Union announced the final 31 members of the men’s national team for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Head coach Jamie Joseph whittled down the roster from 41 candidates over a 10-day training camp in Hokkaidō that finished on August 28. While 10 of the players have World Cup experience, 21 will be making their debuts at the tournament, which will get underway in Japan on September 20. Among the veterans, lock Luke Thompson will be playing in his fourth World Cup, while captain and flanker Michael Leitch, hooker Horie Shōta, and scrum half Tanaka Fumiaki will be making their third appearance at rugby’s premier event.
Japan will meet powerhouse South Africa in a pre-tournament friendly on September 6 in the squad’s final warmup before facing off against Russia in the tournament opener on September 20. The Brave Blossoms will then play Ireland, Samoa, and Scotland in the opening group stage. Japan aims to finish in the top two of its pool and qualify for the knockout round for the first time.
Japan’s Pool A Fixtures
| Date | Kick-Off | City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan vs Russia | September 20 (Friday) | 7:45 pm | Tokyo |
| Japan vs Ireland | September 28 (Saturday) | 4:15 pm | Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture |
| Japan vs Samoa | October 5 (Saturday) | 7:30 pm | Toyota, Aichi Prefecture |
| Japan vs Scotland | October 13 (Sunday) | 7:45 pm | Yokohama |
Knockout Stage
| Date | Kick-Off | City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan vs South Africa | October 20 (Sunday) | 7:15 pm | Tokyo |
Related article › 2019 Rugby World Cup: Match Venues and Host Cities
Japan’s 2019 Rugby World Cup Team
(Data current as of August 29, 2019)
Head Coach
Joseph, Jamie
Date of birth: November 21, 1969
Age: 50
Managing highlights
2011–2016 Managed Highlanders (New Zealand)
2015 Highlanders finished as Super Rugby champions
Forwards
Props
Inagaki Keita
Date of birth: June 2, 1990
Age: 29
Height: 186 cm
28 caps
Club: Panasonic Wild Knights
Kizu Yūsuke
Date of birth: December 2, 1995
Age: 23
Height: 178 cm
3 caps
Club: Toyota Verblitz
Koo Ji-won
Date of birth: July 20, 1994
Age: 25
Height: 183 cm
7 caps
Club: Honda Heat
Nakajima Isileli
Date of birth: July 9, 1989
Age: 30
Height: 186 cm
2 caps
Club: Kobelco Steelers
Valu, Asaeli Ai
Date of birth: May 7, 1989
Age: 30
Height: 187 cm
8 caps
Club: Panasonic Wild Knights
Hookers
Kitade Takuya
Date of birth: September 14, 1992
Age: 26
Height: 180 cm
0 caps
Club: Suntory Sungoliath
Sakate Atsushi
Date of birth: June 21, 1993
Age: 26
Height: 180 cm
16 caps
Club: Panasonic Wild Knights
Horie Shōta
Date of birth: January 21, 1986
Age: 33
Height: 180 cm
61 caps
Club: Panasonic Wild Knights
Locks
Thompson, Luke
Date of birth: April 16, 1981
Age: 38
Height: 196 cm
66 caps
Club: Kintetsu Liners
Van der Walt, Wimpie
Date of birth: January 6, 1989
Age: 30
Height: 188 cm
12 caps
Club: NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes
Helu, Uwe
Date of birth: July 12, 1990
Age: 29
Height: 193 cm
13 caps
Club: Yamaha Júbilo
Moore, James
Date of birth: June 11, 1993
Age: 26
Height: 195 cm
2 caps
Club: Munakata Sanix Blues
Flankers
Tui, Hendrik
Date of birth: December 13, 1987
Age: 31
Height: 189 cm
44 caps
Club: Suntory Sungoliath
Tokunaga Yoshitaka
Date of birth: April 10, 1992
Age: 27
Height: 185 cm
11 caps
Club: Toshiba Brave Lupus
Leitch, Michael
Date of birth: October 7, 1988
Age: 30
Height: 190 cm
62 caps
Club: Toshiba Brave Lupus
Labuschagné, Pieter
Date of birth: January 11, 1989
Age: 30
Height: 189 cm
2 caps
Club: Kubota Spears
Flanker/Number Eight
Himeno Kazuki
Date of birth: July 27, 1994
Age: 25
Height: 187 cm
12 caps
Club: Toyota Verblitz
Number Eight
Amanaki, Lelei Mafi
Date of birth: January 11, 1990
Age: 29
Height: 189 cm
24 caps
Club: NTT Communications Shining Arcs
Backs
Scrum-Halves
Shigeno Kaito
Date of birth: November 21, 1990
Age: 28
Height: 170 cm
9 caps
Club: Toyota Verblitz
Tanaka Fumiaki
Date of birth: January 3, 1985
Age: 34
Height: 166 cm
70 caps
Club: Canon Eagles
Nagare Yutaka
Date of birth: September 4, 1992
Age: 26
Height: 166 cm
18 caps
Club: Suntory Sungoliath
Fly-Half
Tamura Yū
Date of birth: January 9, 1989
Age: 30
Height: 181 cm
57 caps
Club: Canon Eagles
Fly-Half/Center
Matsuda Rikiya
Date of birth: May 3, 1994
Age: 25
Height: 181 cm
19 caps
Club: Panasonic Wild Knights
Wings
Fukuoka Kenki
Date of birth: September 7, 1992
Age: 26
Height: 175 cm
33 caps
Club: Panasonic Wild Knights
Moeakiola, Ataata
Date of birth: February 6, 1996
Age: 23
Height: 185 cm
3 caps
Club: Kobelco Steelers
Lemeki, Lomano Lava
Date of birth: January 20, 1989
Age: 30
Height: 177 cm
11 caps
Club: Honda Heat
Centers
Tupou, William
Date of birth: July 20, 1990
Age: 29
Height: 188 cm
9 caps
Club: Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Nakamura Ryōto
Date of birth: June 3, 1991
Age: 28
Height: 178 cm
18 caps
Club: Suntory Sungoliath
Lafaele, Timothy
Date of birth: August 19, 1991
Age: 28
Height: 186 cm
17 caps
Club: Kobelco Steelers
Full-Back/Wing
Matsushima Kōtarō
Date of birth: February 26, 1993
Age: 26
Height: 178 cm
33 caps
Club: Suntory Sungoliath
Full-Back
Yamanaka Ryōhei
Date of birth: June 22, 1988
Age: 31
Height: 188 cm
13 caps
Club: Kobelco Steelers
(Originally published in Japanese on August 29, 2019; updated on October 15, 2019. All photos © Japan Rugby Football Union.)