Harumichi Tatekawa named captain of Japan for Pacific Nations Cup

Japan head coach Eddie Jones has named Harumichi Tatekawa as the captain for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup.

The decision follows after regular skipper Michael Leitch has been rested for the series.

Tatekawa rose to fame under Jones as he was named for the first time in the squad under the Australian on his first stint as the head coach. He also played a prominent role for Japan under Jones during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

He played 43 out of the 56 games under Jones but with Jamie Joseph taking over as the head coach his selection was not consistent as he did not feature in the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups.

Nevertheless, Tatekawa continued to impress in the domestic circuit as he captained Spears Funabashi-Tokyo Bay to their first ever title in the 2022 season.

“Haru [Tatekawa] has 56 caps and was a winning captain with Spears," said Jones while naming the squad.

He has ample experience and can sincerely engage with other players while demanding high standards. I hope he will be a role model for the younger players.”

Meanwhile, Canada also have named a 28-man Pacific Nations squad for the clash against Japan scheduled for Sunday in Vancouver.

The announcement follows a 12-day training camp at Shawnigan Lake School and a preparation match against the Vancouver Highlanders.

“Obviously we want to win the Pacific Nations Cup and win every test match we play. But with World Cup qualification being next year, there’s not a lot of pressure this year," LeSage said.

"We’ve got a young team. A lot of guys, (Sunday) will be the first time they play in front of a crowd this big. We’re staying at world-class hotels, using world-class facilities. It’s a pretty amazing opportunity just to be involved. So I think you can take lessons this year and build confidence going into next year.”