Japan Squad Announced for World Rugby U20 Trophy 2024
Japan’s U20 Head Coach Naoya Okubo has named his 28-member Japan U20 squad for World Rugby’s U20 Trophy 2024. Taking place in Scotland from July 2-17, the tournament will be played over four match days at the Hive Stadium in Edinburgh. It will be contested by eight teams who will be fighting for promotion to the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship.
Comprising 17 forwards and 11 backs, the Japan squad is drawn from nine universities spread throughout the country. Meiji University contributes the largest number of players with nine, while four players each are drawn from Teikyo University and Kyoto Sangyo University.
Japan will be looking to put in a strong performance throughout the tournament as they work to gain promotion back to the U20 Championship after being relegated following last year’s tournament in South Africa. Drawn in Pool A, Japan will face hosts Scotland, their Asian rugby rivals, Hong Kong China and Samoa.
Confidence in the team will be running high after their victorious clean sweep at this year’s Pacific Challenge Tournament in Samoa where they competed as the Japan XV. Across three tough matches in hot and humid conditions, they defeated their hosts Samoa, Tonga and the reigning tournament champions and much fancied Fiji Warriors.
While the conditions in Edinburgh will be far from tropical, the competition is sure to be just as fierce. Japan will kick off their campaign against Hong Kong China on Tuesday, July 2 at 11:45 local time, 19:45 Japan time. They back this up five days later against Samoa on Sunday, July 7 for a 17:15 kick-off, 01:15 the following day Japan time. Their final match will be against hosts Scotland on Friday, July 12 at 19:45 local time, 03:45 the following day Japan time.
Naoya Okubo, Japan U20 Team Head Coach commented:
“This team started back in December last year when 55 players gathered for trials. Since then, we have trained with Japan National Team and League One sides and played 11 matches. We have been improving steadily and building our preparation to compete on the world stage. I would like to thank the League One and University officials, coaches and staff for their great support in guiding the team to this point. Our target now is to win all four matches in Scotland and to be promoted back into next year’s Championship. We are 28 players with the determination to overcome any difficulties as a team and we count on your enthusiastic support back in Japan.”
Prior to departing for Scotland on Friday, June 28, the squad will assemble for a pre-tournament training camp in Chiba Prefecture from June 22-27.
Japan U20 Squad:
| Position | Name | University | Height(cm) | Weight (kg) | DOB |
| PR | Jinnosuke MORI | Tenri Univ. | 177 | 105 | 2004/1/14 |
| PR | Sojiro Otsuka | Kwansei Gakuin Univ. | 178 | 104 | 2004/7/5 |
| HO | Kenshin SHIMIZU | Waseda Univ. | 178 | 104 | 2004/12/27 |
| HO | Haruya KERAKAWAUCHI | Teikyo Univ. | 174 | 100 | 2004/9/15 |
| HO | Kyoya TANAKA | Ritsumeikan Univ. | 175 | 95 | 2005/9/14 |
| PR | Takumi YAMAGUCHI | Meiji Univ. | 181 | 120 | 2005/3/29 |
| PR | Towa NUNOBIKI | Teikyo Univ. | 180 | 110 | 2004/11/17 |
| PR | Yuta HATTA | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 185 | 112 | 2004/4/5 |
| LO | Yotaro MONOBE | Meiji Univ. | 191 | 116 | 2004/9/28 |
| LO | Shuntaro ISOBE | Tsukuba Univ. | 190 | 110 | 2004/7/14 |
| LO | Chuka ISHIBASHI | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 190 | 95 | 2004/4/10 |
| LO | Ryoku MASUO | Rissho Univ. | 186 | 117 | 2004/10/19 |
| FL | Shusui KAMEI | Meiji Univ. | 191 | 84 | 2004/10/27 |
| FL | Koki KAWAGOE | Tenri Univ. | 180 | 88 | 2004/5/23 |
| FL | Yoshiaki TAIAN | Tenri Univ. | 176 | 92 | 2004/4/2 |
| FL | Kotaro OKAWA | Meiji Univ. | 187 | 102 | 2004/4/24 |
| NO8 | Daichi YOSHIKAWA | Ritsumeikan Univ. | 181 | 98 | 2004/4/13 |
| SH | Joji TAKAKI | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 164 | 70 | 2004/9/11 |
| SH | Yamato MURATA | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 168 | 69 | 2004/10/15 |
| SO | Rieto ITO | Meiji Univ. | 173 | 74 | 2004/7/30 |
| SO | Ryunosuke ITO | Meiji Univ. | 170 | 76 | 2004/11/20 |
| CTB | Takaya MOTOHASHI | Teikyo Univ. | 182 | 86 | 2004/5/19 |
| CTB | Yamato UEDA | Teikyo Univ. | 180 | 84 | 2005/3/8 |
| CTB | Eito SHIRAI | Meiji Univ. | 177 | 82 | 2005/10/22 |
| WTB | Kento IIOKA | Tsukuba Univ. | 183 | 83 | 2004/8/12 |
| WTB | Kohaku EBISAWA | Meiji Univ. | 173 | 79 | 2004/10/27 |
| WTB | Tasuku MASUYAMA | Tsukuba Univ. | 177 | 83 | 2004/4/14 |
| FB | Jingo TAKENOSHITA | Meiji Univ. | 180 | 83 | 2004/6/11 |
Additional players taking part in pre-tournament training camp
| Position | Name | University | Height(cm) | Weight (kg) | DOB |
| SO | Takumi KOU | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 179 | 80 | 2005/6/26 |
| WTB | Kaiichi MIYAZATO | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 182 | 85 | 2005/10/11 |
| FB | Koki YOSHIDA | Chuo Univ. | 168 | 74 | 2005/5/18 |
| FL/NO8 | Takuto YAMAGUCHI | Chuo Univ. | 181 | 89 | 2005/11/17 |
WORLD
RUGBY U20 TROPHY 2024
2 -17 July | Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
| Pool A | Pool B |
| Hong Kong China | Kenya |
| Japan | Netherlands |
| Samoa | Uruguay |
| Scotland | USA |
Pool matches
Match day 1: Tuesday, 2 July
Match day 2: Sunday 7, July
Match day 3: Friday 12, July
Final and ranking matches
Match day 4: Wednesday 17th July