Japan to play Top League foreign all stars team

A fixture is being organised between the Japanese national team and a Top League All Stars XV, made up of the big name imports plying their trade in Japan.

The game, which has been earmarked for early June, is being used as a warm-up for Japan's Pacific Nations Cup campaign as well as a fundraiser for victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

The Japanese Rugby Union did try to get an international team to play the Cherry Blossoms instead of selecting a Top League All Stars side but because of the nuclear crisis in the country, they had difficulty in convincing anyone to make the trip.

Original article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/n...-life-in-Japan

That seems a good idea. There'd be plenty of downsides to importing players, but a pool of ex- or near Test level players to bring on your national side would be one of the few upsides. Makes sense to take advantage of it and reckon it would make for a good match.

Hope they don't flog them too hard :S

Japan won 49-7. The Top League XV included Japanese players that missed out on the Pacific Nations Cup squad mixed in with the foreigners so it wasn't quite the all-stars team reported above.