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]

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

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

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

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

Record

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Season standings

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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

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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

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References

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  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.
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