Toyota Verblitz flanker Akito Okui will captain the Japan XV of their second-ever match towards Hong Kong China, with 5 new gamers coming into the matchday 23 after final weekend’s loss to Australia A in Osaka.
Japan XV claimed a 64-12 win in Beppu Metropolis final Could, however Hong Kong China have since gone on to qualify for the 2027 Males’s Rugby World Cup. They defeated South Korea 70-22 within the remaining spherical of the Asia Rugby Championship to guide their place on the showpiece occasion.
9 Wallabies featured within the Australia A facet that secured a cushty win over the Japanese facet final Saturday, with Darcy Swain scoring twice and Ben Donaldson proving dependable off the goal-kicking tee.
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Okui will captain the Japan XV but once more, following a powerful efficiency towards the Aussie facet final day trip. The captain joins Toshiba Courageous Lupus Tokyo’s Shohei Ito and Rikuto Nakaya from Doshisha College within the beginning backrow.
Sho Furuhata will pack down alongside Shodai Hirao and Yuta Kokaji in a Japan Rugby League One front-row, whereas Epineri Uluiviti and David Van Zeeland make up the second-row pairing – each locks standing at 196 centimetres tall.
Asahi Doei from Yokohama Canon Eagles will hyperlink up with Toyota Verblitz’s Shinya Komura within the halves, with Yuto Mori and Yuya Hirose within the midfield. Tomu Takamoto and Kazuma Ueda will line up on a wing every, with Takuro Matsunaga at fullback.
“Since our match towards Australia A, there have been just a few adjustments within the lineup on account of accidents and different causes,” Performing Head Coach Ippei Asada stated in an announcement.
“Similar to final week, it’s nonetheless a younger squad, nevertheless it’s one stuffed with promise and personally, I’ve excessive expectations for them.
“Over the previous week we’ve recognized a variety of points to work on, however the gamers and coaches are united in transferring ahead collectively and we’ve been in a position to put together effectively for the upcoming match towards Hong Kong China.”
This match can be broadcast on RugbyPass TV.
It’ll kick off at 7:00 pm native time (8 pm JST) on Friday, October 24, at Hong Kong China’s Kai Tak Stadium.
Japan XV to tackle Hong Kong China
1. Sho FURUHATA – Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights
Graduate: Daito Bunka Univ. | Top: 185cm | Weight: 118kg | DOB: 1996/12/10
2. Shodai HIRAO – Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath
Graduate: Kwansei Gakuin Univ. | Top: 174cm | Weight: 103kg | DOB: 2002/10/11
3. Yuta KOKAJI – Toshiba Courageous Lupus Tokyo
Graduate: Tenri Univ. | Top: 176cm | Weight: 109kg | DOB: 1998/7/8
4. Epineri ULUIVITI – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars
Graduate: Ratu Kadavulevu Faculty | Top: 196cm | Weight: 122kg | DOB: 1996/7/7
5. David VAN ZEELAND – Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay
Graduate: Takushoku Univ. | Top: 196cm | Weight: 116kg | DOB: 2000/2/11
6. Shohei ITO – Toshiba Courageous Lupus Tokyo
Graduate: Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | Top: 190cm | Weight: 115kg | DOB: 1997/5/1
7. Akito OKUI (C) – Toyota Verblitz
Graduate: Teikyo Univ. | Top: 178cm | Weight: 105kg | DOB: 2001/9/17
8. Rikuto NAKAYA – Doshisha Univ.
Graduate: Osaka Toin HS | Top: 180cm | Weight: 102kg | DOB: 2005/4/15
9. Asahi DOEI – Yokohama Canon Eagles
Graduate: Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | Top: 170cm | Weight: 73kg | DOB: 2003/1/9
10. Shinya KOMURA – Toyota Verblitz
Graduate: Teikyo Univ. | Top: 180cm | Weight: 92kg | DOB: 2002/5/28
11. Tomu TAKAMOTO – Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo
Graduate: Teikyo Univ. | Top: 182cm | Weight: 92kg | DOB: 2001/10/10
12. Yuto MORI – Yokohama Canon Eagles
Graduate: Meiji Univ. | Top: 174cm | Weight: 85kg | DOB: 1998/11/1
13. Yuya HIROSE – Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay
Graduate: Meiji Univ. | Top: 182cm | Weight: 94kg | DOB: 2001/4/7
14. Kazuma UEDA – Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Graduate: Kindai Univ. | Top: 177cm | Weight: 87kg | DOB: 2002/12/4
15. Takuro MATSUNAGA – Toshiba Courageous Lupus Tokyo
Graduate: Tenri Univ. | Top: 172cm | Weight: 82kg | DOB: 1998/8/13
Replacements
16. Shoma SAGAWA – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars
Graduate: Nihon Univ. | Top: 180cm | Weight: 103kg | DOB: 2002/1/20
17. Yuichiro TANIGUCHI – Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo
Graduate: Tenri Univ. | Top: 180cm | Weight: 109kg | DOB: 1998/6/4
18. Sanshiro KIHARA – Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath
Graduate: Senshu Univ. | Top: 181cm | Weight: 108kg | DOB: 2003/1/20
19. Shu YAMAMOTO – Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo
Graduate: Kindai Univ. | Top: 190cm | Weight: 96kg | DOB: 1999/6/1
20. Keito AOKI – Toyota Verblitz
Graduate: Teikyo Univ. | Top: 187cm | Weight: 110kg | DOB: 2002/6/14
21. Shuntaro KITAMURA – Shizuoka BlueRevs
Graduate: Ritsumeikan Univ. | Top: 168cm | Weight: 77kg | DOB: 2002/3/28
22. Ichigo NAKAKUSU – Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo
Graduate: Keio Univ. | Top: 174cm | Weight: 84kg | DOB: 2000/6/1
23. Kotaro ITO – Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo
Graduate: Meiji Univ. | Top: 177cm | Weight: 86kg | DOB: 2001/11/15
