Rugby

Japan names squad for Fiji clash

July 22, 2019 12:16 pm

The Japanese side have named a powerful 42-member-squad for their Pacific Nations Squad clash against Fiji.

Head coach Jamie Joseph has named Michael Leitch as the side’s captain.

Joseph says as director of rugby he has many different roles and jobs, but my core focus is to build a team that can win at the World Cup.

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He says the team is now in a really good spot to push forward to the next stage of preparation.

Leitch is one of 12 survivors from the team that became the first to win three pool matches at the showpiece tournament and not qualify for the quarter-finals in England four years ago.

Japan squad
Keita Inagaki, Yusuke Kizu, Jiwon Koo, Isileli Nakajima, Masataka Mikami, Hiroshi Yamashita, Koki Yamamoto, Asaeli Ai Valu, Takuya Kitade, Atsushi Sakate, Shota Horie, Kosuke Horikoshi, Samuel Anise, Luke Thompson, Grant Hattingh, Wimpie van der Walt, Uwe Helu, James Moore, Hendrik Tui, Yoshitaka Tokunaga, Shunsuke Nunomaki, Michael Leitch (captain), Pieter Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno, Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco, Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Kaito Shigeno, Fumiaki Tanaka, Yutaka Nagare, Yu Tamura, Rikiya Matsuda, Kenki Fukuoka, Ataata Moeakiola, Lomano Lava Lemeki, Yusuke Kajimura, William Tupou, Ryoto Nakamura, Timothy Lafaele, Kotaro Matsushima, Jamie Henry, Ryuji Noguchi, Ryohei Yamanaka.