Japan coach John Kirwan has named 10 uncapped players in his 30-strong squad for the inaugural Asian Five Nations, which also features Hong Kong, Korea, Kazakhstan and the Arabian Gulf and takes place over five consecutive weekends from 25 April to 24 May 2008.
Seven of the newcomers are forwards in props Akira Ozaki, Yuta Inose and Yosuke Ikegaya, second rows Taira Sato and Koji Shinozuka and back rowers Ryu Koliniasi Holani and Yoshitaka Nakayama.
The other three are scrum half Fumiaki Tanaka, fly half Shaun Webb and centre Ryan Nicholas, while a further eight members of Kirwan’s squad have a total number of Test caps still in single figures.
One of these is James Arlidge, the fly half who made his international debut against Korea last year but then saw his hopes of playing at Rugby World Cup 2007 ended after breaking his leg against the Classic All Blacks.
The most experienced member of the squad is captain Takuro Miuchi with 40 caps, one more than wing Hirotoki Onozawa. The 32-year-old number 8, who led Japan at the last two Rugby World Cups, is one of only four players who are in their 30s.
Japan kick off their Asian Five Nations campaign against Korea in Incheon on 26 April, a day after the Arabian Gulf entertain Hong Kong. The Japanese then host the Arabian Gulf and Hong Kong, either side of a visit to Almaty to face Kazakhstan.
The International Rugby Board supported competition provides Japan with the ideal preparation for the IRB Pacific Nations Cup, which runs from 7 June to 6 July and will see them face New Zealand Maori, Australia A, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
