Lappies Labuschagne added to Japan squad

Talismanic former captain Michael Leitch and hooker Shota Horie will travel to their fourth Rugby World Cup after being named in the Japan squad that will compete in France.

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Loose forward Leitch, who captained Japan to the quarter-finals on home soil in 2019, and 37-year-old Horie were included in an initial 30-man party, to which head coach Jamie Joseph added three more players prior to the deadline.

The suspension Leitch received for his first Test career red card against Samoa in Sapporo last month won’t impact on his availability at Rugby World Cup 2023.

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At present, Luke Thompson is the only player to have featured for Japan in four Rugby World Cups (2007-2019).

Centre Yukio Motoki was also part of four Rugby World Cup squads, but was an unused replacement in his first tournament in 1991.

Wing/fullback Kotaro Matsushima, who scored five tries in the Brave Blossoms’ run to the last eight in 2019, will be appearing at his third tournament.

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The squad also includes three uncapped players in prop Sione Halasili, scrumhalf Kenta Fukuda and second-rowER Saumaki, while 19 of the players will be making their tournament debuts.

Saumaki and three other forwards, Warner Dearns, Uwe Helu and Lappies Labuschagne, were late additions to the squad after Jamie Joseph only named 30 players in his original announcement.

At the same time, second-rower James Moore has been cut from the squad.

South Africa-born flank Labuschagne will miss Japan’s opening match against Chile in Toulouse on 10 September as he will still be serving a three-match ban for a dangerous tackle in Japan’s 35-12 loss to Fiji on 5 August. 

Labuschagne and Helu were involved in Rugby World Cup 2019, but Dearns and Saumaki will be making their tournament bows in France. 

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JAPAN RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023 SQUAD

Forwards: Keita Inagaki, Craig Millar, Sione Halasili, Koo Ji-won, Shinnosuke Kakinaga, Asaeli Ai Valu; Shota Horie, Atsushi Sakate, Kosuke Horikoshi; Jack Cornelsen, Warner Dearns, Uwe Helu, Amanaki Saumaki, Pieter ‘Lappies’ Labuschagne, Shota Fukui, Kazuki Himeno, Michael Leitch, Ben Gunter

Backs: Naoto Saito, Yutaka Nagare, Kenta Fukuda; Lee Seung-sin, Rikiya Matsuda, Jumpei Ogura; Ryoto Nakamura, Tomoki Osada, Shogo Nakano, Dylan Riley; Siosaia Fifita, Semisi Masirewa, Jone Naikabula, Lomano Lemeki, Kotaro Matsushima