Brave Blossoms’ Squad Announced for Lipovitan D Tour 2021 to Europe

The Japan Rugby Football Union has today announced the Brave Blossoms’ squad for the Lipovitan D Tour 2021 to Europe. Captained by Pieter ‘Lappies’ Labuschagne, the 39-player squad comprises 23 forwards and 16 backs. The tour will see the Brave Blossom take on Ireland in Dublin on November 6, Portugal in Coimbra on November 13 and Scotland in Edinburgh on November 20.

Looking ahead to Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, five uncapped players have been named in the squad, with Shunsuke Asaoka, Shota Fukui, Taichi Takahashi, Jone Nakibula and Shogo Nakano potentially in line for their first test caps. France based Kotaro Matsushima is set to join up with the group in Europe.

The Brave Blossoms will depart Japan for Ireland on October 29 ahead of their first test match of the tour against Ireland in Dublin.

Further details will be announced once it is available.

PositionName Team
PRShunsuke ASAOKATOYOTA VERBLITZ
PRKeita INAGAKISAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
PRAsaeli Ai VALUSAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
PRShinnosuke KAKINAGATOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
PRJiwon GUKOBELCO KOBE STEELERS
PRIsileli NAKAJIMAKOBELCO KOBE STEELERS
PRCraig MILLARSAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
HOAtsushi SAKATESAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
HOYusuke NIWAIYOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES
HOKosuke HORIKOSHITOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
LODaichi AKIYAMATOYOTA VERBLITZ
LOYuya ODOSHIZUOKA BlueRevs
LOJames MOORENTTCommunications ShiningArcs TOKYO-BAY URAYASU
FLNaoki OZAWATOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
FLBen GUNTERSAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
FLJack CORNELSENSAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
FLYoshitaka TOKUNAGATOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS TOKYO
FLPieter LABUSCHAGNEKubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY
FLMichael LEITCHTOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS TOKYO
No.8Tevita TATAFUTOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
No.8Kazuki HIMENOTOYOTA VERBLITZ
No.8Faulua MAKISIKubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY
FL/No.8Shota FUKUISAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
SHNaoto SAITOTOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
SHKaito SHIGENOTOYOTA VERBLITZ
SHYutaka NAGARETOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
SOYu TAMURAYOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES
SORikiya MATSUDASAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
WTBTaichi TAKAHASHITOYOTA VERBLITZ
WTBJone NAIKABULABRAVE LUPUS TOKYO
WTBShogo NAKANOTOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
WTBSiosaia FIFITAHANAZONO KINTETSU LINERS
WTBLomano Lava LEMEKINEC GREEN ROCKETS TOKATSU
WTB/FBKotaro MATSUSHIMAASM Clermont Auvergne
CTBRyoto NAKAMURATOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
CTBTimothy LAFAELEKOBELCO KOBE STEELERS
CTBDylan RILEYSAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
FBRyohei YAMANAKAKOBELCO KOBE STEELERS
FBRyuji NOGUCHISAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS

RELATED NEWS