Jones names provisional Rugby World Cup squad

TOKYO (Jan. 5) – Japan coach Eddie Jones named a 41-man squad Monday that he says will form the basis of the 31 players he will take to England in September for Rugby World Cup 2015.

“I have named 41 players who will attend our first camp in January to be checked medically and also do some strength and conditioning testing,” Jones said. “This is the forerunner to our World Cup campaign, which starts in April.”

“We started this project three years ago and there are nine months to go. Our target is quite clearly set on making the quarterfinals of the World Cup and creating a new history for Japan rugby.”

The squad is largely built around the players Jones has used since taking over from John Kirwan after Rugby World Cup 2011, though four uncapped players are included.

Forwards Ryu Sioapelatu Holani, Kazuhiko Usami and Tsuyoshi Murata and back Tim Bennetts have forced their way into the squad based on their form in the Top League and Jones said it was possible others could follow.

“There is no permanency about the squad,” he said. “But players outside it have been told to change certain aspects of their game. Unless they can change they won’t be in contention.”

Two players – Takuya Yamasawa and Amanaki Lelei Mafi – were not included due to injury, and Jones said he had been to a shrine on New Year’s Day to ask the rugby gods to be kind on the players in the hope they recover in time, though he admitted it was unlikely.

Jones said Rugby World Cup year was like no other and that each series of games the Brave Blossoms play in 2015 would be used to build towards their opening World Cup game against South Africa on Sept. 19.

The year starts with the newly formatted Asian Rugby Championship in which Japan take on Hong Kong and South Korea both home and away in April and May.

The squad then travels to the United States and Canada in July and August to play four opponents to be determined in the Pacific Nations Cup, before returning home to take on an unnamed side on Aug. 15 and Uruguay on Aug. 22 and 29.

The Brave Blossoms final warm-up game sees them take on Georgia in Gloucester on Sept. 5.

“There is a lot of hard work ahead but when I look at the squad I really feel it is capable of making the quarterfinals,” Jones said.