Super Rugby Pacific side NSW Waratahs has announced their team to play former League One champions Kubota Spears at Spears Edoriku Field in Funabashi on Friday.
Ex-Leicester Tigers head coach Dan McKellar, who had a stint as a forwards coach for NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka in 2013, leads his Australian side for the first time having been appointed in July on a three-year deal.
The NSW Waratahs revealed their 25-strong matchday squad on Tuesday with back-rower Charlie Gamble and second rower Hugh Sinclair named as joint captains.
Super Rugby Pacific’s basement outfit from last season are five weeks into their pre-season in Sydney and have opted for a mix of youth and experience to face Frans Ludeke’s star-studded 2023 League One winners.
Academy graduates such as back-rower Eamon Doyle and fly-half Joey Fowler are included in the squad along with highly-rated young flanker Leafi Talataina and promising wing Archie Saunders who caught the eye for Australia in the summer at the World Rugby U20 Championship.
McKellar said: "It's about the transfer of areas of our game we've worked on in training into a match; while also understanding that we haven't worked on everything yet.
“We’ve only been going for five weeks; but this is a great opportunity to gauge where we are at this point of our pre-season preparation.”
The Australian side fly to Tokyo on Wednesday morning and will return to home on Sunday morning.
McKellar’s team kick-off their 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign at home on Friday, February 14 against the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium.
Kubota, who have been dealt a major blow by the departure of Welshman Liam Williams just four weeks before the new season starts, are yet to name their squad.
RugbyJP.com will be on-site to cover the game.
NSW Waratahs squad to play Kubota Spears: Forwards:
Jamie Adamson, Brad Amituanai, Sifa Amone, Adrian Brown, Ethan Dobbins, Eamon Doyle, Charlie Gamble ©, Clem Halaholo, Julian Heaven. Mesu Kunavalu, Tom Lambert, Fergus Lee-Warner, Hugh Sinclair ©, Leafi Talataina
Backs:
Jack Bowen, Nick Chan, Joey Fowler, Jack Grant, James Hendren, Triston Reilly, Lukas Ripley, Jackson Ropata, Archie Saunders, Joe Walton, Teddy Wilson
Picture courtesy of NSW Waratahs
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