Japan warms up in Queensland

Queensland Rugby - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 2:13 PM

THE Pacific Nations Cup will also feature Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks.

QUEENSLAND team will play Japan’s rugby side in a midweek match at Ballymore next month.

The non-capped match on the night of Wednesday, June 10, will serve as a final trial for Japan’s campaign for the iRB Pacific Nations Cup.

QR Reds Head Coach Phil Mooney said the home team will be made up of contracted, QAS Reds Academy and Premier club players not involved with the Wallabies or Australia’s Under 20 campaign.

“We’ll run the best available squad of 22. It’ll certainly provide another opportunity for some players to test themselves at a higher level.”

Performance Rugby manager Ben Whitaker said the match was requested by Japan coach John Kirwan’s team to give the squad a trial before the Pacific Nations Cup.

Whitaker said the match was scheduled for midweek so as not to clash with the Queensland Premier Rugby competition.

The Pacific Nations Cup will also feature Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks.