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TOKYO - The Japanese rugby team have left the country, heading for Italy and their final preparations for the rugby World Cup to be played in France next month.
The 30-player squad as well as six back up players, led by coach and All Blacks legend John Kirwan, are to play Italy on August 18 and Portugal a week later, before moving to France on September 2 for the World Cup, which will start on September 7.
It will be a third World Cup for world top try scorer Daisuke Ohata and a second for captain and flanker Takuro Miuchi.
"I want to get my best form before going to France. It will be a long trip, but I'm really looking forward to it," said 31-year-old Ohata.
Ohata, who overtook legendary Australian David Campese's previous record of 64 tries a year ago, has scored 69 tries in test matches for the national team.
Japan will play Australia in their first match on September 8, Fiji on September 12, Wales on September 20 and Canada on September 25 in the Pool B preliminary round.
- AFP
