All three naturalized players are expected to make their international debut for the team this autumn.
Head coach Eddie Jones has announced the squad for the upcoming Test matches, which includes eight new caps. Particular attention is drawn to three foreign players who have recently switched their sporting nationality to Japanese, bolstering the team`s forward pack.
The newly naturalized players who have acquired Japanese sporting citizenship are:
- Tyler Paul: A 30-year-old South African second or third row forward. Before relocating to Japan in 2020, he notably played for the `Kings` and `Sharks` clubs.
- Harry Hockings: A 26-year-old Australian lock, who previously showcased his skills playing for the `Reds` and the Australian U20 national team. He also moved to Japan in 2020.
- David van Zyl: Another Australian lock, aged 25. Born in Brisbane, he made the move to Japan during his university years, indicating a long-term connection to the country.
During the highly anticipated autumn Test series, the Japan national team will face a challenging schedule. Their fixtures include matches against Australia (October 18 and 25), South Africa (November 1), Ireland (November 8), Wales (November 15), and Georgia (November 22).
