Japan Rugby Football Union announced the Final 31-Man squad of the Brave Blossoms for the upcoming 2019 rugby world cup. Team Head coach Jamie Joseph whittled down the roster from 41 candidates to finalized the 31 player list. If we look at the Japan rugby squad then 10 of the players who have world cup experience while 21 are debuts at the tournament which begin from the 20 September.
Among the veterans, lock Luke Thompson will be playing his fourth rugby World Cup tournament, 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 at Japan.
This squad recently beat the Fiji, Tonga and United states and win the pacific nations cup so their confidence is high and one of the benefits for the player is they are playing under the home condition.
“The team has set a goal of making the top eight for the first time in the history of Japanese rugby,” Joseph said.
“The staff and players will give 150 percent — whether that’s enough only time will tell.
“Our game is based around speed, skill and structure,” added the former All Blacks loose forward.
“But the key difference this year is we are fit enough now to play that game.
“We’re training at a level of intensity that’s 25 percent higher than our matches — I think that’s our key weapon.”
Japan’s Pool A Fixtures of the Rugby world cup 2019
| 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 |
Japan who will be facing the russia in the tournament opener on the 20th September after then Brave Blossoms line up will be play Ireland, Samoa and Scotland in the Group stage Matches. Japan who aiming to finish the first group stage round in the top two of their pool and qualify for the knock round.
Japan who is currently Ninth Rank Rugby team after winning the third pacific nations title.
“Joseph Names RWC Squad” Read full story here: https://t.co/fajZnOvzKJ #rugbyjp pic.twitter.com/EN51UypWs7
— Japan Rugby (@JRFURugby) August 30, 2019
Brave Blossoms SQUAD
Forwards:
- Michael Leitch (c)
- Keita Inagaki
- Yusuke Kizu
- Koo Ji-won
- Isileli Nakajima
- Asaeli Ai Valu
- Takuya Kitade
- Atsushi Sakata
- Shota Horie
- Luke Thompson
- Wimpie van der Walt
- Uwe Helu
- James Moore
- Hendrik Tui
- Yoshitaka Tokunaga
- Pieter Labuschagne
- Kazuki Himeno
- Amanaki Mafi
Backs:
- Kaito Shigeno
- Fumiaki Tanaka
- Yutaka Nagare
- Yu Tamura
- Rikiya Matsuda
- Kenki Fukuoka
- Ataata Moeakiola
- Lomano Lemeki
- William Tupou
- Ryoto Nakamura
- Timothy Lafaele
- Kotaro Matsushima
- Ryohei Yamanaka