Japan take youth and experience to Canada

Japanese Head Coach Eddie Jones has confirmed his Brave Blossoms roster for the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup (PNC). Jones has gone for 19 forwards and 16 backs. Included are more experienced players and seven newcomers.

Japan i coming off an underwhelming July campaign. The July internationals saw Japan defeating the Maori All Blacks but falling to losses against England, Georgia and Gonzalo Quesada’s Italy.

Among the debutants are university students Yamato Murata, Kohaku Ebisawa, and Yoshitaka Yazaki, the latter of whom was involved for Japan in the uncapped fixtures against the Maori All Blacks.

Japan join Canada, the USA Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga in the 2024 PNC. The teams are split into northern and a southern pools. Japan will open against Canada in Vancouver before hosting the USA Eagles in Kumagaya.

All six teams will be involved in the play-off’s. Taking place from September 14-21, Japan will host the matches in Tokyo and Osaka.

JAPAN ROSTER – FORWARDS

LOOSE HEAD PROP
Shogo Miura (Toyota, 10 caps), Takayoshi Mohara (Shizuoka, 3 caps), Takato Okabe (Yokohama, 2 caps)

HOOKER
Atsushi Sakate (Saitama, 44 caps), Mamoru Harada (BL Tokyo, 3 caps), Kenta Matsuoka (Kobe, uncapped)

TIGHT HEAD PROP
Yusuke Kizu (Toyota, 6 caps), Shuhei Takeuchi (Urayasu, 6 caps), Keijiro Tamefusa (Tokyo-Bay, 3 caps)

SECOND-ROW
Warner Dearns (BL Tokyo, 14 caps), Sanaila Waqa (Hanazono, 5 caps), Eishin Kuwano (Shizuoka, 1 cap), Epineri Uluiviti (Sagamihara, uncapped)

BACK-ROW
Faulua Makisi (Tokyo-Bay, 8 caps), Kanji Shimokawa (Tokyo SG, 6 caps), Amanaki Saumaki (Kobe, 5 caps), Tiennan Costley (Kobe, 2 caps), Kai Yamamoto (Tokyo SG, 1 cap), Isaiah Mapusua (Toyota, uncapped)

JAPAN ROSTER – BACKS

SCRUM-HALF
Shinobu Fujiwara (Tokyo-Bay, 2 caps), Taiki Koyama (Saitama, 2 caps), Yamato Murata (Kyoto Sangyo Univ., uncapped)

FLY HALF
Rikiya Matsuda (Toyota, 39 caps), Lee Seung Sin (Kobe, 14 caps)

CENTER
Harumichi Tatekawa (Tokyo-Bay, 56 caps), Dylan Riley (Saitama, 20 caps), Tomoki Osada (Saitama, 10 caps), Samisoni Tua (Urayasu, 3 caps), Nicholas McCurran (Toyota, uncapped)

WING
Jone Naikabula (BL Tokyo, 11 caps), Koga Nezuka (Tokyo-Bay, 2 caps), Malo Tuitama (Shizuoka, uncapped), Kohaku Ebisawa (Meiji Univ., uncapped)

FULLBACK
Takuya Yamasawa (Saitama, 9 caps), Yoshitaka Yazaki (Waseda Univ., 3 caps)

JAPAN FIXTURES – 2024 PACIFIC NATIONS CUP

August 25 vs (BC Place Stadium, Vancouver)