American Marconi Wireless News - Japan student Ito keeps place against Ireland as Jones returns

NYSE - LSE

CMSC	0.29%	22.085	$
CMSD	0.31%	22.38	$
NGG	0.33%	82.59	$
JRI	-0.15%	13.01	$
BCE	0.28%	21.38	$
GSK	0.59%	52.78	$
RIO	1.16%	90.54	$
BCC	5.02%	76.06	$
RBGPF	0.52%	67.35	$
RYCEF	1.95%	19.46	$
BTI	-0.03%	60.02	$
RELX	1.14%	32.44	$
VOD	11.14%	14.72	$
BP	1.66%	39.2	$
AZN	-4.01%	171.61	$

Japan student Ito keeps place against Ireland as Jones returns / Photo: Philip FONG - AFP

Japan student Ito keeps place against Ireland as Jones returns

SPORTS 09.07.2026

Japan kept university student fly-half Ryunosuke Ito in their starting line-up named Thursday to face Ireland in the Nations Championship, as head coach Eddie Jones returns from suspension.

Text size:

Ito made his international debut in Japan's 27-10 win against Italy in Tokyo last week and the 21-year-old impressed enough to keep his place alongside half-back partner Naoto Saito.

Taira Main replaces Kippei Ishida on the left wing in Japan's only change for Saturday's Test which will be played in Newcastle, Australia.

Jones returns after serving a four-match ban imposed by the Japan Rugby Football Football Union for abusing match officials on a tour of Australia earlier this year.

Four players, including Ito, made their Japan debuts against Italy.

Japan will also face France in the inaugural Nations Championship in Tokyo on July 18.

Japan (15-1):

Takuro Matsunaga; Kazuma Ueda, Dylan Riley, Yuya Hirose, Taira Main; Ryunosuke Ito, Naoto Saito; Jack Cornelsen, Kanji Shimokawa, Ben Gunter; Warner Dearns (capt), Harry Hockings; Shuhei Takeuchi, Mamoru Harada, Takato Okabe

Replacements: Hayate Era, Sojiro Otuska, Keijiro Tamefusa, Michael Stolberg, Michael Leitch, Tiennan Costley, Itsuki Kamimura, Sam Greene

P.Mathewson--AMWN

American Marconi Wireless News - Japan student Ito keeps place against Ireland as Jones returns

Japan student Ito keeps place against Ireland as Jones returns

Featured

Bellingham drags England into World Cup semis but Tuchel demands more

Pogacar calls for cycling calendar overhaul due to heatwave

Van der Poel stays calm in the heat to win Tour de France stage nine

Van der Poel wins shortened Tour de France ninth stage