We would like to introduce the 38 players selected to play in the 2019 Rugby World Cup "Candidate".

Introducing the members of the Japan Rugby World Cup "Candidate" team.

This year is the year of the Rugby World Cup in Japan, and we can feel the excitement from features on the ground wave and posters on the town!

Both rugby fans and beginners are concerned about national team players. This time, I would like to introduce the candidates for the Japan National Team.

When will the national team be decided?

Japan has now announced its third World Training Score.

World Rugby has decided when each country's Rugby World Cup team will be represented, as they have to register with World Rugby by September 2 and the squad will be determined by September 2 at the latest.

Prior to the announcement of the members of the national team, the "representative candidate" which was announced this time, will be announced. In addition, the "candidate reserve force" will be announced.

Introducing the members of the Japan Rugby World Cup "Candidate" team.

23 FW (Forward) players

[PR (prop)] ASAHARA Takuma , MIKAMI Masataka (Toshiba) , INAGAKI Keita , VALUASAERI Ai , YAMASHITA Hirofumi (Panasonic) , GU Tomimoto (Honda)

[HO (Footer)] SAKATE Atsushi , HORIE Shota (Panasonic) , NIWAI Yusuke (Canon Inc.)

[LO (Lock)] Anise Samuela (Canon Inc.) , Vinci van der Wart (NTT DOCOMO) , Herve (Yamaha Motor) , James Moore (Munakata Sanix) , Peter Labskafni * (Kubota) , Grant Hatting (Kobe Steel)

[FL (flanker)] Tsui Hendrick , Nishikawa Yukikatsu (Suntory) , Ben Gunther (Toshiba) , Tokunaga Yoshitaka (Panasonic) , Leach Michael (Toshiba)

[NO8 (number eight)] NOMAKI Shunsuke (Panasonic) , HIMENO Kazuki (Toyota Motor Corporation) , Ravoni Warren Bosayako (NTT Communications)

15 BK (buck) players

[SH (scrum half)] UCHIDA Keisuke , TANAKA Shiro (Panasonic) , RYUDAI (Suntory) , MINO Kaito (Toyota Motor Corporation)

[SO (standoff)] MATSUDA Rikiya (Panasonic) , TAMURA Yu (Canon Inc.)

[WTB (wing)] FUKUOKA Kenki , YAMADA Akihito (Panasonic) , Lemecki Romano Lovor (Honda)

[CTB (centre)] William Tupou , Raffaele Timothy (Coca-Cola) , Shane Gates (NTT Communications) , NAKAMURA Ryodo (Suntory)

[FB (full back)] Henry Jamie (Toyota Motor Corporation) , MATSUSHIMA Kotaro (Suntory)

A total of 38 people are currently candidates for the Japan Rugby World Cup.

The 38 players selected as "representative candidate" will sign with the Sunwolves until May to strengthen their team for the World Cup.

From June, Japan's national team will be able to participate in the Rugby World Cup after participating in the Pacific Nations Cup, participating in training camps, and participating in the final preparation matches.

Are there any players you want to pay attention to?

15 people participate in 1 game in rugby. In the first match, you can't take your eyes off who will play from this "representative candidate" player, and whether there will be players who you support!

That was all about the members of the Japan Rugby World Cup "Candidate" team!

The players who are candidates are active in the top league and they are talented players! I hope you will play for the national team in the Rugby World Cup and have a good result ♪

[References]
Rugby World Cup official website
https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/388471