Japan World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 Squad

The JRFU (Japan Rugby Football Union) has selected their squad which will compete in the World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 in South Africa.

Updated 22 June 2023 (Feature Photo Credit JRFU)

The Japan U20 team has been preparing by competing in the Pacific Challenge Cup 2023 in Samoa followed by a high-scoring  52-46 win over a New Zealand Universities side at home. In the Pacific Challenge Cup, the side managed a win over Tonga (52-17) and two defeats against Fiji (72-15) and Samoa (44-33).

Japan U20 Head Coach Rob Penney, who only was announced as Japan U20 head coach in December 2022 has already signed on to take charge of the Crusaders in Super Rugby next season (2024) and departed with his team of 30 selected players on June 18 2023 for South Africa.

Photo Credit: JRFU

Although JRFU said: “Off the back of these tough matches, the team will be looking to make a strong start in South Africa, bringing their fast-paced, high-tempo attacking game to the tournament” the number of points conceded in the four matches they played should be of concern.

All of the squad members in 2023 are Japanese university players and Penney added: “Our squad is made up entirely of university players who are still two years away from turning professional. They will play with heart, passion, and pride, all of which are hallmarks of our great game. Thank you to our hosts South Africa and to World Rugby for providing the opportunity and thank you to the volunteers and fans who we know will make this a truly great tournament.”

The Japan U20s have taken part in five previous U20 World Cugby Championships; 2008-09, 2015-16, and 2018 – their best finish was 10th in 2015.

Captains Lenni Nouchi (France) and Yoshiki Omachi (Japan) come together ahead of their opening day meeting at the World Rugby U20 Championship 2023. Thinus Maritz / @ Gallo Pictures for World Rugby.

Japan U20 – World Rugby Championship 2023

Japan heads into the World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 as least favourite, and although they might not be expected to win, a bottom-place finish would see them relegated to the U20 Trophy tournament in 2024.

The World Rugby U20 Championships take place from June 24 to July 14 2023 and Japan faces France, Wales and New Zealand in Pool A. France are the two-time defending champions, while NZ has won the tournament a record 6 times.

• Matchday 1: Saturday 24 June – Pool Matches (Japan vs France – Pool A)
• Matchday 2: Thursday 29 June – Pool Matches (Japan vs Wales – Pool A)
• Matchday 3: Tuesday 4 July – Pool Matches (Japan vs New Zealand – Pool A)

Penney said, “It’s been a tough few years with the restrictions on social interaction and playing rugby in Japan, so it’s great to get back to normality. It’s a credit to this group of young men who have been selected to represent their nation and continue the proud history that the senior Brave Blossoms have developed.

Our squad is made up entirely of university players who are still two years away from turning professional. They will play with heart, passion, and pride, all of which are hallmarks of our great game.”

JRFU Squad – World Rugby U20 Championship 2023

The Japan U20s are captained by full-back Yoshiki Omachi who plays at Teikyo University and has been viewed as a  successor to Mikiya Takamoto (Currently at Tokyo Sungoliath).

Hampei Nishino (Meiji Univ.), Tomoki Yumbe (Kindai Univ.), Kouta Nagashima (Doshisha Univ.), Takashi Omoto (Ritsumeikan Univ.), Kosuke Sugiura (Tokai Univ.), Riku Tomita (Meiji Univ.), Hwang Sena (Kwansei Gakuin Univ.), Kantaro Tajima (Meiji Univ.), Ryotaro Nose (Kindai Univ.), Yuzuki Sasaki (Daito Bunka Univ.), Harry Willard (Durham Univ.), Keito Hayashi (Doshisha Univ.), Taison Mogami (Meiji Univ.), Tenta Kobayashi (Kwansei Gakuin Univ.), Tomoki Kusuda (Meiji Univ.), Bunsuke Kurita (Waseda Univ.), Koki Miyashita (Hosei Univ. ), Toki Toshikawa (Meiji Univ.), Asahi Doei (Kyoto Sangyo Univ.), Yutaro Takahashi (Tsukuba Univ.), Taishin Ohshima (Doshisha Univ.),(c) Yoshiki Omachi(Teikyo Univ.), Kanjiro Naramoto (Tsukuba Univ.), Kengo Nonaka (Waseda Univ.), Shota Taira (Meiji Univ.), Genki Ikuta (Teikyo Univ.), Renji Oike (Ritsumeikan Univ.), Ryohei Imano (Keio Univ.), Kosho Muto (Kwansei Gakuin Univ.), Yoshitaka Yazaki (Waseda Univ.)

World Rugby has highlighted Yoshitaka Yazaki as the Japanese player to watch at the tournament in South Africa. They said “The full-back and winger was a member of the High School Japan side that played Ireland U19 in March 2023 and is widely considered one of Japan’s stars of the future. He scored a try off the bench in Japan’s 52-46 win over New Zealand Universities on 27 May 2023.” Yazaki is a Waseda University player and played 1st XV in his rookie season- winning back-to-back national championships.

World Rugby U20 2023 Championship

• The first time the tournament is being held since 2019.
• The TMO Bunker will be used.
• Gilbert’s Smart Ball will be used at the tournament.
• Hollie Davidson (Scotland) will become the first female official to referee at the U20 Championship.
• Takehito Namekawa (JRFU), a former scrum-half who played for Japan in the 2009 and 2010 tournaments, returns in a match officiating capacity.

U20 Rugby News

• World Rugby U20 Championship 2023.
• World Rugby U20 Championships 2023-2024 Hosted in South Africa.
• World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 Pools.
• Hong Kong China Select World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 Squad.