The Japan Rugby Football Union announced Friday that forwards Warner Dearns, Uwe Helu, Pieter "Lappies" Labuschagne and Amanaki Saumaki had been added to the Japan squad for this year's Rugby World Cup in France, while at the same time saying that lock James Moore had dropped out of the squad.
Having initially named 30 players on Tuesday, head coach Jamie Joseph said he would add three more following the Brave Blossoms final training camp in Tokyo after a series of injuries had disrupted the coach's plans ahead of their final home test against Fiji on Aug. 5.
Labuschagne was named despite the red card he picked up against the Fijians that will see him miss Japan's last warm-up game and their World Cup opener. The South African-born flanker will be appearing in his second World Cup as will his Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay teammate Helu.
Dearns, who like the uncapped Saumaki will be appearing at his first World Cup, has recovered from injuries to his shoulder and ankle and his inclusion will be most welcome given the withdrawal of Moore due to what the JRFU described as "bad condition."
Friday's decision means Kanji Shimokawa and Amato Fakatava, who had been struggling with a foot injury, failed to make the cut.
But Joseph stressed at Tuesday's press conference that a number of Japanese players would play for Britain's famous invitational side the Barbarians in September in Europe so they would remain match-fit in case injuries to the main squad saw them called up.
Joseph and his team play Italy on Aug. 26 in Treviso before they head to France.
The Brave Blossoms open their Pool D campaign against World Cup debutants Chile on Sept. 10 in Toulouse. They will then take on 2003 champions England in Nice on Sept. 17 and then return to Toulouse to play Samoa on Sept. 28, before taking on Argentina in Nantes on Oct. 8.
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Rugby: Injuries delay Japan naming full World Cup squad
Rugby: Joseph to return to Highlanders in 2024 as head of rugby
Rugby: 14-man Brave Blossoms go down to Fiji
