Japan announce squad for Rugby World Cup

Adam Kyriacou

Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has announced his 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off on home soil on Friday, September 20. 

Michael Leitch captains the team for a second successive tournament and is joined by the likes of Amanaki Mafi and Shota Horie in their line-up.

38-year-old second-row Luke Thompson is also named by Joseph, as well as South African-born duo Wimpie van der Walt and Pieter Labuschagne.

Japan begin their World Cup charge against Russia and will also take on Ireland, Samoa and Scotland, with Joseph targeting the quarter-finals.

“The team has set a goal of making the top eight for the first time in the history of Japanese rugby,” the head coach revealed on Thursday.

“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,” he added. “But the key difference this year is we’re 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 squad for Rugby World Cup

Forwards: 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, Michael Leitch (c), 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

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