Japan’s rugby head coach, Jamie Joseph, announced a 36-man squad on Wednesday, focused on strengthening team cohesion and performance in preparation for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. Japan, which is aiming to reach at least the quarter-finals in France, made headlines four years ago when they defeated Ireland and Scotland to advance to the last eight on home soil.
Joseph’s selection includes nine uncapped players, joining seasoned World Cup players such as winger Kotaro Matsushima and flankers Michael Leitch and Kazuki Himeno. The squad also features a 10-player extended training group, which includes 2019 World Cup captain Pieter Labuschagne.
The Japan team will undergo intensive training across two camps before a series of matches against a New Zealand XV and home Test games with Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji. The build-up will culminate with a Test against Italy before the team’s World Cup debut against Chile in Toulouse on September 10.
“Our goal is to elevate the squad to Test-match standard while rebuilding a strong, unified team spirit,” said Joseph, originally from New Zealand. “This year promises to be both exciting and demanding, and we have significant work to do in Japan, Italy, and eventually France for the World Cup.”
In Pool D of the tournament, Japan will face tough competition, including England, Samoa, and Argentina, as they strive to surpass their 2019 performance and secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
