RD 4 PREVIEW: Exclusive news, line-ups and comments

Japan Rugby League One returns this weekend for the fourth round of the competition and first set of fixtures in 2026.

Urayasu D-Rocks (6th) v Yokohama Canon Eagles (12th)

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo - 12.00 KO

The top-flight action kicks off on Saturday with Graham Rowntree’s vastly-improved Urayasu D-Rocks hosting ex-All Black Leon MacDonald’s basement outfit Yokohama Canon Eagles.

Chiba-based Urayasu only won three games in the entire 18-round regular season in 2024-2025 but have made a bright start to the new campaign under their new English head coach Rowntree who led Munster to the URC title in 2023.

Urayasu, who have been driven by the powerful midfield partnership of Samu Kerevi and Shane Gates, have recorded two wins from their opening three games and impressively outgunned last season’s quarter-finalists Shizuoka Blue Revs last time out.

Wallabies star Kerevi leads the individual charts for metres gained (285m) and is second for offloads (seven), second for defenders beaten (23) and third for carries (50).

Their opponents Yokohama are winless after three rounds after suffering an opening round loss to Shizuoka, a narrow defeat to rivals Mitsubishi in the Kanagawa derby and a heavy loss at the hands of champions Toshiba to close out 2025.

Springboks star Faf de Klerk suffered an ankle injury in round one when trying to tackle wing Valynce Te Whare and – for third season in a row – has temporarily withdrawn from the competition to receive medical treatment in his homeland.

The double World Cup winner, who has been linked with a return to England in the summer, remains registered to play and could return for the final rounds of the regular season.

Compatriot and newly-appointed club captain Jesse Kriel, the first non-Japanese captain in the club’s history, has handed MacDonald a major boost by returning to full fitness and leads the side in the midday clash at Chichibunomiya after missing rounds two and three due to an undisclosed injury. 

Fit-again Italian lock Dino Lamb, a summer recruit from Harlequins, also returns for his first start since round one.

Talented wing Masayoshi Takezawa makes his first appearance of the season while countryman and breakout Japan star Kippei Ishida, who shone in the loss to Toshiba, occupies the right flank. Judo black belt-turned wing Viliame Takayawa, who represented Fiji at the 2013 World Cadet Championships in the 81kg category in Miami, drops out of the 23 despite back-to-back tries against Mitsubishi and Toshiba.

Ex-Crusaders centre Levi Aumua could make his Yokohama debut from the bench.

Urayasu’s own South African star Jasper Wiese starts consecutive games for the first time this season after being eased back into club action as a replacement for rounds one and two after a gruelling year.

There’s no room in the hosts’ 23 for ex-Wallabies star Israel Folau, 36, who was influential on the wing against Shizuoka, for the first time since round one.

Former Chiefs wing Tana Tuhakaraina, who scored against Mitsubishi in round one, takes over from Folau on the right wing with Japan-qualified Caleb Cavubati, the son of ex-Wellington and Fiji prop Bill Cavubati, looking to build on his return of two tries in three games on the left flank.

In-form outside-centre Shane Gates, who scored a brace on his way to winning Player of The Match against Shizuoka, told RugbyJP.com: “We’re happy with the start we’ve made although there are still a lot of areas where we could’ve been better. We will continue to just try and execute our game and the things we do in training.”

Urayasu (1-15): Hidetomo Nabeshima, Ryuji Fujimura (c), Sekonaia Pole, Yuzuki Sasaki, Steven Cummins, Shin Takeuchi, Brody MacAskill, Jasper Wiese, Ren Iinuma, Hikaru Tamura, Caleb Cavubati, Samu Kerevi, Shane Gates, Tana Tuhakaraina, Ryohei Yamanaka

Replacements: Junichiro Matsushita, Kaisei Umeda, Ryom Kim, Yuta Kojima, Tamati Ioane, Taisei Konishi, Otere Black, Takuhei Yasuda

Yokohama (1-15): Takato Okabe, Shunta Nakamura, Ryosuke Iwaihara, Randall Baker, Liaki Moli, Dino Lamb, Billy Harmon, Amanaki Saumaki, Asahi Doei, Yu Tamura, Masayoshi Takezawa, Yusuke Kajimura, Jesse Kriel, Kippei Ishida, Yuto Mori

Replacements: Yusuke Niwai, Tomoki Minami, Tatsuro Sugimoto, Lekima Nasamila, Jeandre Labuschagne, Toshiki Amano, Yuragi Muto, Levi Aumua

Toshiba Brave Lupus (5th) v Mitsubishi Dynaboars (8th) Uvance Todoroki Stadium, Kanagawa - 14.30 KO

Back-to-back champions Toshiba open their 2026 calendar at home to Mitsubishi as they target a third consecutive win to continue their steady return to form after being whitewashed 46-0 by Saitama in round one.

Todd Blackadder’s side bounced back with a gritty win on the road against Kwagga Smith’s Shizuoka before pulling away from Yokohama in the final 15 minutes in their round three clash.

It’s been a far from polished start from the ‘three-peat' hopefuls who are still getting into their stride this season.

The Fuchu outfit have missed the presence and work ethic of Japan captain Warner Dearns, who is spending the 2026 campaign in Super Rugby with the Hurricanes, while Brave Blossoms legend and club captain Michael Leitch is still recovering from a calf injury he sustained against Ireland in November.

RugbyJP.com can exclusively reveal that flanker Shannon Frizell broke his hand against Saitama and is expected to be sidelined for four months. The All Blacks star, whose Toshiba contract expires this summer, is now in a race to be fit to return in time for the post-season play-offs.

Glenn Delaney’s Mitsubishi side narrowly lost out to Urayasu in round one before besting local rivals Yokohama and were then well beaten by early pace-setters Saitama.  

Kanagawa-based Mitsubishi shipped 33 points to Saitama which is still 13 less than Toshiba conceded against Atsushi Kanazawa’s rampant leaders.

Ex-All Black Jackson Hemopo continues to campaign at lock to make space for former Highlanders stalwart Marino Mikaele-Tu'u to play at number eight.

New signing Brad Weber goes straight into the matchday squad after being unveiled on Monday. The well-travelled 34-year-old, a shrewd addition from Stade Francais, will offer competition for first-choice scrum-half Kota Iwamura who gets the nod for this fourth start in as many games.

Double World Cup-winning Springbok Lukhanyo Am has been an ever-present for his new employers and he partners Tonga-born Haniteli Vailea in the midfield for the third game in a row with Japan international Charlie Lawrence still sidelined.

Ex-Northampton Saints fly-half James Grayson continues at full-back to accommodate highly-rated fly-half Shun Miyake who has arrived from Canterbury.

Kobe-born Miyake, 24, is is currently in the process of obtaining permanent residency in New Zealand as he boldly hangs on to his hopes of one day playing for the All Blacks.

The reigning NPC winner is set for the greatest test of his young career when he lines up against two-time League One winner and back-to-back MVP Richie Mo’unga.

Mo’unga, who has had a low-key start to the new season by his high standards, is aiming to cap off his three-year spell in Japan by winning an unprecedented third straight League One title before returning home to play for Canterbury and the Crusaders to push his case for an instant return to the All Blacks 10 jersey. 

Toshiba scrum-half Kohei Takahashi has been rewarded for his spectacular two-try cameo from the bench against Yokohama by being handed his first start of the season with Yuhei Sugiyama dropping to the dugout.

Japan-qualified Rob Thompson and Fiji international Seta Tamanivalu, who have formed one of the most potent centre partnerships in the league since the former's arrival from Toyota, will be key figures for the home side.

Mo’unga told RugbyJP.com: “I feel like in the first three weeks of the season we have gone through so many emotions. We suffered a huge loss and now we're in a good position with back-to-back wins.”

Toshiba (1-15): Sena Kimura, Rinpei Sakaki, Vea Taumoefolau, Jacob Pierce, Michael Stolberg, Afu Ofeina, Takeshi Sasaki, Hiroki Yamamoto, Kohei Takahashi, Richie Mo’unga, Tjay Clarke, Rob Thompson, Seta Tamanivalu, Toshiki Kuwayama, Takuro Matsunaga

Replacements: Ken Hiyoshi, Teruo Makabe, Yuta Kokaji, Callum MacDonald, Shohei Ito, Yuhei Sugiyama, Michael Collins, Rei Ishioka

Mitsubishi (1-15): Changho Ahn, Seunghyok Lee, Shunsuke Asaoka, Epineri Uluiviti, Jackson Hemopo, Jose Seru, Kyo Yoshida, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Kota Iwamura, Shun Miyake, Joape Naco, Haniteli Vailea, Lukhanyo Am, Matt Vaega, James Grayson

Replacements: Yuki Miyazato, Jun Morimoto, Tomoaki Ishii, Friedle Olivier, Kohki Sato, Brad Weber, Satoshi Koizumi, Masataka Tsuruya

Saitama Wild Knights (1st) v Shizuoka Blue Revs (7th) Kumagaya Sports and Culture Park Rugby Stadium, Saitama – 14.30 KO

Leaders Saitama will be aiming to preserve their unbeaten status when they host Shizuoka at the fortress that is Kumagaya Sports and Culture Park Rugby Stadium on Saturday.

The inaugural League One winners toyed with Toshiba before overpowering a dogged Urayasu side and comprehensively bested Mitsubishi in round three.

New head coach Atsushi Kanazawa, who has stepped up from his backs coach role to take over from the legendary Robbie Deans, has made a perfect start in his new role.

Kanazawa rested his key international players at the start of the season and utilised his  enviable squad depth to take command of the table at the start of 2026.

Saitama boasts the meanest defence having conceded just 22 points in three games.

Springboks centre Damian de Allende was rested in December and makes his return for round four alongside ex-Hurricanes midfielder Vince Aso who has moved into Category A this season and is now eligible for Japan having qualified on residency grounds.

Japan ace Dylan Riley, who wore the number 13 jersey in rounds two and three, fractured his finger in the win against Mitsubishi on 28 December and faces a three-month lay-off,  RugbyJP.com can exclusively reveal.

Former Australia u20s international Riley, an integral player for club and country, has undergone surgery and will be unable to return to full training for approximately 12 weeks.

South African lock Lood de Jager remains absent while former Wallabies wing Marika Koroibete will be eager to continue his rich vein of form after crossing against Urayasu and Mitsubishi after being held back for the opener against Toshiba.

Captain Atsushi Sakate was one of the standout players in December with six tries in three games and will lead them out the home team in Saitama.

Fly-half Kyohei Yamasawa returns for his first outing this season after centre Takaya Saito slotted into playmaking duties against Mitsubishi.

Yamasawa’s older brother Takuya, who starred against Toshiba with a haul of 26 points and was perfect from the tee with 10 successful kicks, is still unavailable after picking up a first half injury against Urayasu on 21 December.

Rookie scrum-half Kumsu Lee, 23, makes his second start for Saitama and only his third League One appearance after a promising display against Mitsubishi last time out.

Full-back Yoshiaki Taniguchi, 24, who joined the club in 2024 after graduating from Tokai University, could make his League One debut from the bench.

Kwagga Smith-led Shizuoka lost consecutive games at home in December to Toshiba and Urayasu and will be desperate to return to winning ways on the road having thwarted Yokohama away from home in round one.

Smith was rested for the victory over Yokohama and restored for rounds two and three as he was unable to halt his teams near misses in front of their home fans.

Number eight and former Japan international Malgene Ilaua will make his 50th appearance in Japan’s top-flight.

Japan international Sam Greene goes straight into the starting line-up after returning to full fitness as he seizes the number 10 jersey from Kenta Iemura who doesn’t make the 23.

The visitors will look to their heavy-hitting midfield of Tongan star Charles Piutau and Fijian  flyer Semi Radradra who makes his second League One appearance after a try-scoring debut against Yokohama on 14 December.

Former Lions star Sanele Nohamba and ex-Dolphins wing Valynce Te Whare both have to settle for places among the replacements.

Saitama (1-15): Craig Millar, Atsushi Sakate (c), Lisala Finau, Jack Cornelsen, Esei Haangana, Ben Gunter, Lachlan Boshier, Viliami Afu Kaipouli, Kumsu Lee, Kyohei Yamasawa, Marika Koroibete, Damian de Allende, Vince Aso, Koki Takeyama, Ryuji Noguchi

Replacements: Kenji Sato, Keita Inagaki, Taniela Vea, Liam Mitchell, Juan Wilson, Hondo Atora, Maurice Marks, Yoshiaki Taniguchi

Shizuoka (1-15): Kenta Yamashita, Takeshi Hino, Takumi Inaba, Justin Sangster, Murray Douglas, Vueti Tupou, Kwagga Smith (c), Malgene Ilaua, Shuntaro Kitamura, Sam Greene,  Malo Tuitama, Charles Piutau, Semi Radradra, Kakeru Okumura, Futo Yamaguchi

Replacements: Richmond Tongatama, Takayoshi Mohara, Sean Vete, Yuya Odo, Takuma Shoji, Sanele Nohamba, Sylvian Mahuza, Valynce Te Whare

Suntory Sungoliath (4th) v Kobe Steelers (3rd) Ajinomoto Stadium, Chofu – 14.30 KO

Once-beaten hosts Suntory Sungoliath suffered one of the most painful losses in their history to close their year as high-flying Kubota Spears ran in 11 tries for a thumping 79-20 win at Chichibunomiya.

Suntory have had two weeks to regroup and refresh since that humbling result and will be determined to atone for that calamitous outing and get back on track against fellow play-off hopefuls Kobe Steelers.

Head coach and former Japan fly-half Kosei Ono, who is now in his second season in charge, has understandbly wielded the axe and made seven changes to his starting XV.

Former Wallabies international Sean McMahon makes his first start of the season after Japan’s Tevita Tatafu, who returned home after two successful seasons with French Top 14 side Union Bordeaux-Begles, was favoured in the early rounds.

Australian lock Sam Jeffries – not to be confused with his fellow lock.. Sam Jeffries who hails from England – has been called upon for his maiden appearance in 2025-2026.

Former All Blacks captain and 2015 World Cup winner Sam Cane, who was appointed as the club’s new captain this season, will lock horns with his former international colleague Ardie Savea.

Long-time Japan international and former Suntory captain Yutaka Nagare, 33, takes over at scrum-half from Kenta Fukuda as he plays for the first time since announcing that he will retire this summer.

Fly-half Mikiya Takamoto, who won the Rookie of The Year Award in 2024, is another casualty with new signing Kaleb Trask being handed his first League One bow for the crunch fixture.

The former Chiefs fly-half, who had a spell in Japan with Honda Heat in 2022, is part of a new-look backline with Kohei Yasuda coming in on the left wing.

Japan international Shogo Nakano makes his first appearance this season as he’s preferred to Isaiah Punivai who slips to the bench. Nakano partners outside-centre Taiga Ozaki who keeps his place in addition to Springboks superstar Cheslin Kolbe and full-back Kotaro Matsushima. 

Dave Rennie’s star-studded Kobe side were edged out by Kubota 33-28 in round one but responded with solid wins over Honda Heat and Toyota Verblitz and are improving every week.

Kobe have been tipped as potential title contenders with their marquee signings, All Blacks Ardie Savea and Anton Lienert-Brown, feeling like the final pieces of the puzzle to complement a squad which defeated Saitama in the third-place play-off last season.

Kiwi legend and club captain Brodie Retallick, 34, is rolling back the years in Japan and has scored two tries in three games. The World Cup winner is one of seven New Zealand-born players in their starting line-up.

Retallick parters ex-Blues lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, who is now qualified for Japan, in the second row.

Veteran hooker and former Maori All Blacks captain Ash Dixon, 37, a surprise addition from division two side NEC Green Rockets, and Japan international Tiennan Costley, who is deployed at blindside flanker, are also among the strong contingent hailing from New Zealand.

Former Chiefs fly-half Bryn Gatland will be buoyed by a visit from his family including his father and ex-Wales head coach Warren over the holiday period.

All Blacks centurion Savea, who scored a double to help see off Toyota on 27 December, and League One newcomer Lienert-Brown, who was a standout performer last month, complete the septet of representatives from the island country.

Rennie has stuck with the winning team which beat Toyota 49-29 in round three to keep continuity.

Former Sunwolves centre Michael Little and Test capped wing Ataata Moeakiola, who was overlooked by Japan last year despite being at his free-scoring best, are among the replacements.

Suntory (1-15): Kenta Kobayashi, Shodai Hirao, Shuhei Takeuchi, Sam Jeffries, Harry Hockings, Ryuga Hashimoto, Sam Cane, Sean McMahon, Yutaka Nagare, Kaleb Trask, Kohei Yasuda, Shogo Nakano, Taiga Ozaki, Cheslin Kolbe, Kotaro Matsushima

Replacements: Kosuke Horikoshi, Yukio Morikawa, Kan Nakano, George Hammond, Kanji Shimokawa, Kenta Fukuda, Kazuki Ishida, Isaiah Punivai

Kobe (1-15): Shigure Takao, Ash Dixon, Hiroshi Yamashita, Brodie Retallick, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Tiennan Costley, Ardie Savea, Waisake Raratubua, Itsuki Kamimura, Bryn Gatland, Inoke Burua, Lee Seung-sin, Anton Lienert-Brown, Kazuma Ueda, Kanta Matsunaga

Replacements: Sione Sime Mau, Hikaru Moriwaki, Sho Maeda, Takara Imamura, Solomone Funaki, Atsushi Hiwasa, Michael Little, Ataata Moeakiola

Toyota Verblitz (9th) v Black Rams Tokyo (10th) Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu – 14.30 KO

Steve Hansen and Ian Foster’s cash-rich Toyota had a season to forget last year and need to halt their current losing run or face playing catch-up in their bid for a top-six play-off spot.

World Cup-winning head coach Hansen presided over 13 defeats in 18 games in the 2024-2025 campaign which is three more losses than he experienced in his entire 107-game, eight-year reign with the All Blacks.

Toyota narrowly avoided a relegation play-off last term after a lowly 10th-place finish and overhauled their squad with non-stop arrivals including two props, three hookers, three locks and two wingers.

All Blacks wing Mark Tele'a was the headline acquisition and has been reunited with compatriot Aaron Smith who is in the final season of his three-year contract.

Springboks great and two-time World Player of The Year Pieter-Steph du Toit returned to club duty in the round one win over Honda, his first game for Toyota in 587 days after missing all of last season following shoulder surgery.

The 2019 and 2023 World Cup winner marked his comeback with a try but is unavailable for the visit of TJ Perenara’s Black Rams.

Toyota are the only side with four Category C players (capped by a country other than Japan) on their books despite only three being able to be named in a matchday squad.

The trio of du Toit, Smith and Tele'a have been picked for the previous three games with Scottish international Richie Gray, who made 13 appearances last term, yet to feature this season.

RugbyJP can reveal that Gray, 36, has been de-registered by his club. He remains listed on their own website and could be reintroduced later in the season.

Toyota were overpowered by play-off contenders Suntory and Kobe in December and need to return to winning ways to kickstart their season.

Japan star and Toyota captain Kazuki Himeno, who missed the Pacific Nations Cup and end-of-year tour due to fitness issues, leads the league for carries (58) and has been at his industrious best, chipping in with two tries.

Japanese scrum-half Kaito Shigeno, 35, comes in for Smith, 37, with Lourens Erasmus filling the boots of du Toit in the second row with wing Tele'a, who is yet to find the try line in three games, the only Category C player available in Fukuoka.

Tabai Matson’s Black Rams were a spirited outfit last season as they were pipped to the final play-off spot by Suntory who beat them in the penultimate round of the season.

The Rams, who are captained by TJ Perenara for the second year in a row, lost out to Suntory in round one and were outworked by Kubota a week later. They recorded their first win against Honda on 27 December and, having traded wins with Toyota last season, will be confident of upsetting the expensively assembled home side.

Former Wallabies international Liam Gill returns at openside flanker after missing round three.

The evergreen Perenara, who revels in being a talismanic captain and passing on his infinite wisdom to a highly-talented young group of Japanese players, starts his fourth game in a row.

Japan international Ichigo Nakakusu continues at fly-half after an encouraging start and is complemented by full-back Isaac Lucas who will be keen to press his case for a Japan call-up this summer.

Former Australia prop Paddy Ryan, 37, who has recently moved into a player-coach role, is among the replacements.

Toyota (1-15): Shogo Miura, Schalk Erasmus, Taufa Latu, Josh Dickson, Lourens Erasmus, Keito Aoki, Kazuki Himeno (c), Blair Ryall, Kaito Shigeno, Shinya Komura, Viliame Tuidraki, Nicholas McCurran, Siosaia Fifita, Mark Tele'a, Taichi Takahashi

Replacements:  Yoshikatsu Hikosaka, Hanjiro Hirai, Yusuke Kizu, Zach Gallagher, William Tupou, Isaiah Mapusua, Kaisei Tamura

Black Rams (1-15): Kazuma Nishi, Shin Ouchi, Daigo Sasagawa, Josh Goodhue, Reijiro Yamamoto, Shu Yamamoto, Liam Gill, Samuel Waqabaca, TJ Perenara, Ichigo Nakakusu, Siope Tavo, Yuki Ikeda, Larzlo Sword, Taira Main, Isaac Lucas

Replacements:  Masashi Onishi, Yuichiro Taniguchi, Paddy Ryan, Michael Allardice, Otoya Kihara, Toshiya Takahashi, Kotaro Ito, PJ Latu

Honda Heat  (11th) v  Kubota Spears (2nd) Mie Kotsu G Sports Forest, Suzuka – 12.00 KO Sunday 11 January

Winless Honda entertain undefeated Kubota in the final game of the round in Suzuka on Sunday.

Kieran Crowley’s Honda, who survived a relegation play-off against division two side Kintetsu Liners last year, went 0-3 in December in three closely contested games.

The hosts lost to Toyota by 11 points, Kobe by five points and to the Black Rams by four points and, while heading in the right direction, will need to produce an improved performance to keep things competitive against Kubota.

Fiji captain Tevita Ikanivere is named among the replacements for the fourth time with Japan’s Koki Hida holding onto his number two jersey.

Los Pumas great Pablo Matera, who told RugbyJP in May that the 2025-2026 season will be his last at the club, is among the replacements which sees ageless full-back Lomano Lemeki installed as the captain.

Springboks lock Franco Mostert, who crossed against the Black Rams a fortnight ago, stays in the back-row at blindside flanker.

All-action number eight Aseri Masivou has impressed after arriving from NEC. Fiji-born Masivou, who now qualifies for Japan, is joint third for carries (50) and seventh for tackles (44) in division one.

Honda, who are second highest scorers in the bottom half of the table (84), will look to the likes of ex-Saracens fly-half Manu Vunipola, Olympian Lemeki and new signing Ben Paltridge to illustrate their attacking intent against a robust Kubota team.

Last season’s runners-up were ruthless in December as they scored 162 points in just three games.

Frans Ludeke, who led the club to League One glory in 2023, is not holding back after a scintillating start and has picked a full strength side for the trip to Suzuka.

Former Australia fly-half Bernard Foley, 36, is the top points scorer with a hefty return of 57 points which is 23 more than Toyota’s Rikiya Matsuda who occupies second place.

South Africa’s World Player of The Year Malcolm Marx, Foley and once-capped All Black Shaun Stevenson all start.

Ex-karate junior world champion Haruto Kida, who won his first Test cap against USA in September, is playing the best rugby of his career after finally arriving in Test rugby arena.

Japan livewire Kida has scored four tries in three starts and is only behind Samu Kerevi for the most metres gained (263) this season. Eddie Jones will be hoping his new wing can enjoy an injury-free campaign.

Captain Faulua Makisi has also been in inspired form but is absent this weekend with Foley set to lead the team out.

Japan wing Halatoa Vailea will win his 50th League One cap and, with three tries in his last two games, will be a constant threat.

Versatile forward Tyler Paul steps in at the base of the scrum as he covers for his fellow Japan international Makisi.

Lively full-back Stevenson, who aims to represent Samoa at the 2027 World Cup in Australia, scored a brace against Suntory on 27 December, and should again be prominent for the visitors while 127kg prop Opeti Helu, who side-stepped Damian McKenzie to score on his Brave Blossoms bow in 2024, has also been in fine form.

Tonga-born Helu, who crossed against the Black Rams in round two, has a vast skillset and already has eight offloads to his name which only teammate Kida can match.

Honda (1-15): Kanato Hirano, Koki Hida, Katsuyuki Hoshino, Janko Swanepoel, Trevor Hosea, Franco Mostert, Ryo Furuta, Aseri Masivou, Azuma Doei, Manu Vunipola, Rakuhei Yamashita, Johnny Fa'auli, Dawid Kellerman, Ben Paltridge, Lomano Lemeki

Replacements:  Tevita Ikanivere, Tatsuhiko Tsurukawa, Matthys Basson, Ryoma Nishimura, Pablo Matera, Koki Miyasaka, Kyogo Okano, Kapa Waimana

Kubota (1-15): Yota Kamimori, Malcolm Marx, Opeti Helu, Ruan Botha, David Bulbring, Akira Ieremia, Takeo Suenaga, Tyler Paul, Shinobu Fujiwara, Bernard Foley, Haruto Kida, Rikus Pretorius, Halatoa Vailea, Koga Nezuka, Shaun Stevenson

Replacements: Rikuto Fukuda, Kazuki Kato, Keijiro Tamefusa, Merwe Olivier, Asipeli Moala, Shunta Koga, Harumichi Tatekawa, Yamada Hibiki

Stay tuned to  RugbyJP.com for on-site coverage from round four