Junior Japan

Junior Japan
UnionJapan Rugby Football Union
Emblem(s)Sakura
Founded2012
Coach(es)Japan Naoya Okubo
Captain(s)Keito Aoki
1st kit
2nd kit

Junior Japan is a national representative rugby union team of the Japan rugby union. It is a second-tier side to the Japan national rugby union team. Junior Japan competes in the World Rugby Pacific Challenge against teams such as Samoa A, Fiji Warriors, and Argentina's Pampas XV.[1]

The Junior Japan squad was formed in 2012 from players just outside the main Japanese national squad. In the first year, the team played a match in Tokyo against the Tongan national side, before joining the Pacific Rugby Cup in 2013.[2]

Current Squad

Naoya Okubu named a 33 man squad for the World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024.[3]

Player Position Club/Province
Jinnosuke Mori Loose-head Prop Japan Tenri University
Mutsuki Urade Loose-head Prop Japan Kindai University
Kenji Sato Hooker Japan Waseda University
Haruya Kerakawauchi Hooker Japan Teikyo University
Kenshin Shimizu Hooker Japan Waseda University
Towa Nunobiki Tight-head Prop Japan Teikyo University
Yuta Hatta Tight-head Prop Japan Kyoto Sangyo University
Takumi Yamaguchi Tight-head Prop Japan Meiji University
Chuka Ishibashi Lock Japan Kyoto Sangyo University
Shuntaro Isobe Lock Japan Kyoto Sangyo University
Yotaro Monobe Locks Japan Meiji University
Tomonosuke Shiromaru Lock Japan Tsukuba University
Keito Aoki Lock Japan Teikyo University
Koki Kawagoe Back row Japan Tenri University
Yoshiaki Taian Back row Japan Tenri University
Shusui Kamei Back row Japan Meiji University
Kotaro Okawa Back row Japan Meiji University
Asahi Doei Scrum-half Japan Kyoto Sangyo University
Joji Takagi Scrum-half Japan Kyoto Sangyo University
Rieto Ito Scrum-half Japan Meiji University
Takaya Motohashi Fly-half Japan Teikyo University
Ryunosuke Ito Fly-half Japan Meiji University
Yuta Akihama Centre Japan Meiji University
Yamato Ueda Centre Japan Teikyo University
Kohaku Ebisawa Winger Japan Meiji University
Yoshitaka Yazaki Winger Japan Waseda University
Jingo Takenoshita Utility back Japan Meiji University
Tasuku Masuyama Utility back Japan Tsukuba University
Aoi Omiya Reserve Japan Nihon University
Ryoku Masuo Reserve Unattached
Syota Goto Reserve Japan Nihon University
Yusuke Yoshida Reserve Japan Teikyo University

Record

Season standings

Pacific Rugby Cup

Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/- TB LB Pts Final  Notes  
2013 3rd 6 0 0 6 140 361 -221 3 0 3 –  
2014 4th 3 0 0 3 26 241 -210 0 0 0 –   Finished 4th in Pool A

World Rugby Pacific Challenge

Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/- TB LB Pts Final  Notes  
2015 6th 3 0 0 3 41 212 -171 1 0 1 – Finished 3rd in Pool A
2016 3rd 3 1 0 2 58 94 -36 0 0 4 – Lost to Tonga A in the 3rd place play off.
2017 2nd 3 2 0 1 92 103 -11 2 0 10 –
2018 2nd 3 2 0 1 77 77 0 2 0 10 –
2019 2nd 3 2 0 1 94 97 -3 3 0 11 –
2020 1st 3 3 0 0 143 25 +118 2 0 14 –
2023 3rd 3 1 0 2 100 133 - 33 2 0 6 –

See also

References

  1. ^ "Junior Japan join expanded PRC in 2013". ARFU. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Junior Japan Sugadaira Camp". Rugby in Japan Newsletter Volume 9, No.30. 14 August 2012. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  3. ^ Hinato (29 March 2024). "Le groupe Japan XV pour le World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024". Asierugby (in French). Retrieved 2 April 2024.