Rugby World Cup 2007: Japan Squad

You know that Rugby World Cup 2007 is now very close to its opening day. The tournament will begin from 7 September 2007 in France. This will be the sixth rugby world cup. Ahead of such important tournament, participating 20 teams are now busy with their last minute preparation. Japan has recently unveiled their 30-man final squad for the world cup.

Japan is a minor team in the rugby world though Rugby was introduced in Japan in 1899. They played their first international rugby match against a Canadian team in 1932. However, Japan is considered as one of the strongest teams in Asia as they are the only Asian team who has participated in all five Rugby world cup tournaments. However, it is true that their performance in Rugby world cup is not so good. In 1991 rugby world cup, Japan projected their first and only world cup win over underdog Zimbabwe.

Japan coach John Kirwan is hopeful about Rugby world cup 2007 as he earlier expressed his desire to win at least two games in 2007 Rugby world cup. He wants to introduce a Japanese brand of rugby which he termed “Samurai Spirit”. He also thinks that they have the responsibility for Asia as well as for Japan. John Kirwan earlier won Rugby World Cup with New Zealand in the first Rugby World Cup in 1987.

Coach gave the captaincy to number 8 Takuro Miuchi. Veteran fly wing Daisuke Ohata has come back to the squad after suffering from an injury. Fly wing Daisuke Ohata and flanker Yasunori Watanabe are going to play their third world cup whereas five other players- Miuchi, props Ryo Yamamura and Masahito Yamamoto, back row Hajime Kiso and centre Hirotoki Onozawa will be playing their second world cup for Japan. You may think that Japan coach has emphasized on the experienced players but the reality is that 12 players have played 10 or fewer international matches.

So, I think, Japan looks balanced and a combination of youth and experienced players. It is idle for any team to have some experienced and young players in the team. Japan will play in Pool B along with two time champion Australia, Canada, Fiji and Wales. Though the match against Australia on 9 September Japan will start their world cup campaign.

I am giving the names of the players of Japan squad from the official website of Rugby world cup below:

Forwards (16): Ryo Yamamura, Masahito Yamamoto, Tomokazu Soma, Tatsukichi Nishiura, Yuji Matsubara, Mitsugu Yamamoto, Hitoshi Ono, Takanori Kumagae, Luatangi Samurai Vatuvei, Luke Thompson, Takuro Miuchi (Captain), Yasunori Watanabe, Hajime Kiso, Hare Makiri, Philip O’Reilly, Takamichi Sasaki.

Backs (14): Yuki Yatomi, Tomoki Yoshida, Eiji Ando, Kousei Ono, Shotaro Onishi, Nataniela Oto, Yuta Imamura, Koji Taira, Bryce Robins, Daisuke Ohata, Hirotoki Onozawa, Kosuke Endo, Christian Loamanu, Go Aruga.