Relegation-threatened Urayasu announces 13 summer departures

Division one basement outfit Urayasu D-Rocks has announced that 13 players will leave the club this summer.

Greig Laidlaw’s team has been rooted to the foot of the table all season after suffering 15 losses in 17 games.

Urayasu are aiming to avoid an instant return to Japan’s second tier and will play division two champions Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi in a two-leg relegation/promotion play-off on 24 and 31 May.

The club concludes their regular season on Friday against ninth-placed Mitsubishi Dynaboars.  

Urayasu announced on Wednesday that former Japan internationals, lock Wimpie van der Walt, 36, and flanker James Moore, 31, will both be leaving after three seasons in Chiba Prefecture.

America-qualified flanker Alexander Mackenzie, 27, who has not made a single appearance this season, will also depart.

Veteran lock Tom Parsons, 34, and hooker Kianu Kereru-Symes, 26, are both part of the squad overhaul along with number eight Nathan Hughes, 33, whose loan deal will expire.  

Ex-Leinster prodigy Chris Cosgrave, 23, will also be looking for a new club.

Props Kazumasa Nishikawa, 29, and Kazuki Saka, 27, and hooker Junya Hamano, 26, are also part of the exodus.

Flankers Shinya Osugi and Shingo Nakajima, both 32, and centre Yasushi Hongo, 27, complete the list of departures.

Urayasu said that they will share comments from the departing players at a later date.  

Stay tuned to RugbyJP for on-site coverage of Urayasu v Mitsubishi on Friday.

Picture courtesy of Urayasu D-Rocks