Japan A Team for Highlanders A

The National Development Squad (NDS) is touring New Zealand in April 2018.

The NDS allows fringe players to the Japan national side as well as the Hito-Communications Sunwolves Super Rugby side the opportunity to press for higher honours.

The NDS, who will play as Japan A, will play three practice games against Highlanders A, Blues A and Hurricanes A.

In the opening game of the tour, Japan A will play Highlanders A before the Super Rugby fixture between the Highlanders and the Brumbies at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday, 14 April 2018.

Game 1:

Highlanders A v Japan A

Date: Saturday, 14 April 2018
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 17.00 (14.00 JST)

Japan A: 1- Koki Yamamoto, 2- Atsushi Sakate, 3- Shinnosuke Kakinaga, 4- Samuela Anise, 5- Uwe Helu, 6- Fetuani Lautaimi, 7- Shunsuke Nunomaki (c), 8- Masakatsu Nishikawa, 9- Keisuke Uchida, 10- Rikiya Matsuda, 11- Kenki Fukuoka, 12- Sione Teaupa, 13- Daishi Murata, 14- Akihito Yamada and 15- Ryuji Noguchi. Reserves: 16- Yusuke Niwai, 17- Masataka Mikami, 18- Genki Sudo, 19- Shinya Makabe, 20- Faulua Makisi, 21- Koki Arai, 22- Robbie Robinson and 23- Seiya Ozaki. Coach: Takanobu Horikawa.