Jones names squad for Asian Rugby Championship

TOKYO (Mar 05) – Japan coach Eddie Jones named a 31-man squad for the inaugural Asian Rugby Championship on Thursday.

 
The tournament, which takes over from the Asian 5 Nations, sees Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea playing one another on a home-and-away basis.

 
“We obviously want to win every game but at the back of our minds we are preparing for the Rugby World Cup,” Jones said.

 
Three uncapped players – Kazuhiko Usami, Ryu Sioapelatu Holani and Tsuyoshi Murata – were named in the squad, which sees a 19-12 split between forwards and backs.

 
“It’s not a balanced squad right now but it’s no use picking players who won’t be in the World Cup,” Jones said, adding that the final “balanced” squad would be named by Aug. 31.

 
Eleven players were unavailable for the ARC but remain in contention for a spot at the World Cup.

 
“We now have six trying to play Super Rugby, which is a positive thing in itself, while four players are injured.”

 
 The 11th is Tim Bennetts, who must wait until June until he fulfills the three-year residency to be eligible to play for Japan.

 
With Michael Leitch one of the six players away on Super Rugby duty, Jones said a new stand-in captain would be named in April at the team’s training camp in Miyazaki.

 
“Of course we want to win the ARC, but everything we do is geared towards the World Cup,” Jones said. “We may do a full fitness session the day before an ARC game and struggle in the game. But if that is what we have to do to be at our peak for the World Cup then that is what we will do.”

 
The Brave Blossoms begin their ARC campaign against South Korea in Incheon on April 18. They then play Hong Kong in Tokyo on May 2 and South Korea in Fukuoka a week later before closing out their campaign in Hong Kong on May 23.