Japan XV named to take on Rugby World Cup-bound Hong Kong China

Toyota Verblitz flanker Akito Okui will captain the Japan XV in their second-ever match against Hong Kong China, with five new players coming into the matchday 23 after last weekend’s loss to Australia A in Osaka.

Japan XV claimed a 64-12 win in Beppu City last May, but Hong Kong China have since gone on to qualify for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup. They defeated South Korea 70-22 in the final round of the Asia Rugby Championship to book their place at the showpiece event.

Nine Wallabies featured in the Australia A side that secured a comfortable win over the Japanese side last Saturday, with Darcy Swain scoring twice and Ben Donaldson proving reliable off the goal-kicking tee.

Sign up for RugbyPass TV HERE.

Okui will captain the Japan XV yet again, following an impressive performance against the Aussie side last time out. The captain joins Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo’s Shohei Ito and Rikuto Nakaya from Doshisha University in the starting backrow.

Sho Furuhata will pack down alongside Shodai Hirao and Yuta Kokaji in a Japan Rugby League One front-row, while Epineri Uluiviti and David Van Zeeland make up the second-row pairing – both locks standing at 196 centimetres tall.

Asahi Doei from Yokohama Canon Eagles will link up with Toyota Verblitz’s Shinya Komura in the halves, with Yuto Mori and Yuya Hirose in the midfield. Tomu Takamoto and Kazuma Ueda will line up on a wing each, with Takuro Matsunaga at fullback.

“Since our match against Australia A, there have been a few changes in the lineup due to injuries and other reasons,” Acting Head Coach Ippei Asada said in a statement.

“Just like last week, it’s still a young squad, but it’s one full of promise and personally, I have high expectations for them.

“Over the past week we’ve identified a number of issues to work on, but the players and coaches are united in moving forward together and we’ve been able to prepare well for the upcoming match against Hong Kong China.”

This match will be broadcast on RugbyPass TV.

It will kick off at 7:00 pm local time (8 pm JST) on Friday, October 24, at Hong Kong China’s Kai Tak Stadium.

Japan XV to take on Hong Kong China

1. Sho FURUHATA – Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights
Graduate: Daito Bunka Univ. | Height: 185cm | Weight: 118kg | DOB: 1996/12/10

2. Shodai HIRAO – Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath
Graduate: Kwansei Gakuin Univ. | Height: 174cm | Weight: 103kg | DOB: 2002/10/11

3. Yuta KOKAJI – Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Graduate: Tenri Univ. | Height: 176cm | Weight: 109kg | DOB: 1998/7/8

4. Epineri ULUIVITI – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars
Graduate: Ratu Kadavulevu School | Height: 196cm | Weight: 122kg | DOB: 1996/7/7

5. David VAN ZEELAND – Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay
Graduate: Takushoku Univ. | Height: 196cm | Weight: 116kg | DOB: 2000/2/11

6. Shohei ITO – Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Graduate: Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | Height: 190cm | Weight: 115kg | DOB: 1997/5/1

7. Akito OKUI (C) – Toyota Verblitz
Graduate: Teikyo Univ. | Height: 178cm | Weight: 105kg | DOB: 2001/9/17

8. Rikuto NAKAYA – Doshisha Univ.
Graduate: Osaka Toin HS | Height: 180cm | Weight: 102kg | DOB: 2005/4/15

9. Asahi DOEI – Yokohama Canon Eagles
Graduate: Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | Height: 170cm | Weight: 73kg | DOB: 2003/1/9

10. Shinya KOMURA – Toyota Verblitz
Graduate: Teikyo Univ. | Height: 180cm | Weight: 92kg | DOB: 2002/5/28

11. Tomu TAKAMOTO – Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo
Graduate: Teikyo Univ. | Height: 182cm | Weight: 92kg | DOB: 2001/10/10

12. Yuto MORI – Yokohama Canon Eagles
Graduate: Meiji Univ. | Height: 174cm | Weight: 85kg | DOB: 1998/11/1

13. Yuya HIROSE – Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay
Graduate: Meiji Univ. | Height: 182cm | Weight: 94kg | DOB: 2001/4/7

14. Kazuma UEDA – Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Graduate: Kindai Univ. | Height: 177cm | Weight: 87kg | DOB: 2002/12/4

15. Takuro MATSUNAGA – Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Graduate: Tenri Univ. | Height: 172cm | Weight: 82kg | DOB: 1998/8/13

Replacements

16. Shoma SAGAWA – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars
Graduate: Nihon Univ. | Height: 180cm | Weight: 103kg | DOB: 2002/1/20

17. Yuichiro TANIGUCHI – Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo
Graduate: Tenri Univ. | Height: 180cm | Weight: 109kg | DOB: 1998/6/4

18. Sanshiro KIHARA – Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath
Graduate: Senshu Univ. | Height: 181cm | Weight: 108kg | DOB: 2003/1/20

19. Shu YAMAMOTO – Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo
Graduate: Kindai Univ. | Height: 190cm | Weight: 96kg | DOB: 1999/6/1

20. Keito AOKI – Toyota Verblitz
Graduate: Teikyo Univ. | Height: 187cm | Weight: 110kg | DOB: 2002/6/14

21. Shuntaro KITAMURA – Shizuoka BlueRevs
Graduate: Ritsumeikan Univ. | Height: 168cm | Weight: 77kg | DOB: 2002/3/28

22. Ichigo NAKAKUSU – Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo
Graduate: Keio Univ. | Height: 174cm | Weight: 84kg | DOB: 2000/6/1

23. Kotaro ITO – Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo
Graduate: Meiji Univ. | Height: 177cm | Weight: 86kg | DOB: 2001/11/15