Emerging Blossoms Team for Japan Rugby Charity Match 2022

The Japan Rugby Football Union is pleased to announce the Emerging Blossoms team to take on the Tonga Samurai XV in the Japan Rugby Charity Match 2022, this Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo.  

Drawn from the National Development Squad, the 25 member team features 14 uncapped players and six players with less than 10 test caps. The team will be captained by Brave Blossoms veteran and Rugby World Cup 2019 star, Yu Tamura and will field a formidable and experienced backline with 68 test cap Tamura at flyhalf, and a centre pairing of Harumichi Tatekawa and Timothy Lafaele, with 55 and 27 test caps respectively.


In the forwards, Brave Blossoms Rugby World Cup 2019 team member, Wimpie van der Walt, who is coming back into contention for national team selection following a long-term injury layover, has been selected in the second row. Adding to the Tongan flavour of the match, the Emerging Blossoms have also named backrow forwards Sione Lavemai and Tevita Tatafu, and centre Sione Teaupa, all three of whom share Tongan heritage.   

The Emerging Blossoms will be coached by Shizuoka Blue Revs Director of Rugby, Takanobu Horikawa.

TEAM LIST

No.NameTeam
1Shogo MIURATOYOTA VERBLITZ
2Kosuke HORIKOSHITOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
Shunsuke ASAOKATOYOTA VERBLITZ
Wimpie VANDERWALTNTT DOCOMO RED HURRICANES Osaka
Takayasu TSUJITOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
Sione LAVEMAITOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS TOKYO
Naoto SHIMADAYOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES
Jose SERUHANAZONO KINTETSU LINERS
Kaito SHIGENOTOYOTA VERBLITZ
10Yu TAMURAYOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES
11Koga NEZUKAKubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY
12Harumichi TATEKAWAKubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY
13Timothy LAFAELEKOBELCO KOBE STEELERS
14Koki TAKEYAMASAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
15Seiya OZAKITOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
16Shunta NAKAMURATOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
17Kota KAISHIKubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY
18Rento TSUKAYAMAYOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES
19Daichi AKIYAMATOYOTA VERBLITZ
20Yuya ODOSHIZUOKA BlueRevs
21Koji IINOTOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
22Tevita TATAFUTOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
23Taiki KOYAMASAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
24Taira MAINRICOH BlackRams Tokyo
25Sione TEAUPAKubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY

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