Sakata chosen for International Rugby Board's Hall of Fame

Yoshihiro Sakata, at one time considered among the top rugby players in the world, will be inducted into the International Rugby Board's Hall of Fame, the IRB announced Tuesday. He will be the first Japanese to be inducted.

Sakata, a Japan international who once scored four tries in a famous win against the Junior All Blacks and also played provincial rugby in New Zealand for Canterbury, became the 51st member to join the Hall.

"This is really an honor," Sakata said from Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya. "This is the result of giving it my all. I'm very thankful to rugby."

NAGOYA — Japan suffered its first loss under Eddie Jones as the Brave Blossoms went down 25-19 at the hands of Fiji in their Pacific Nations Cup opener on Tuesday.

Ayumu Goromaru scored 14 of Japan's points. The hosts were awarded a penalty try midway through the second half.

Setareki Koroilagilagi led the Fijians with 10 points from the set piece, despite missing four penalties and a conversion. Aisake Katonibau, Waisea Nayacalevu and Vereniki Goneva crossed for the islanders.

Samoa beat Tonga 20-18 earlier in the four-way competition.

Goromaru had put Japan up 9-0 by the 19th minute with three penalties, but the Fijians scored 14 unanswered points to take the halftime lead through tries by Katonibau and Nayacalevu, both converted by Koroilagilagi.

Fiji stretched its lead just one minute into the second half with a Koroilagilagi penalty, and was ahead 25-12 in the 59th minute as Goneva touched down.

The visitors gifted a penalty try two minutes past the hour. Goromaru converted to pull Japan within six, but could not further close the gap.

Japan next plays Tonga on Sunday in a rematch of the first-round affair at last year's Rugby World Cup. The Brave Blossoms close out the tournament on June 17 against Samoa.

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Honda, Kagawa named to Japan squad for international friendly

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni on Friday recalled CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda and also picked Borussia Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa in a 23-man squad for next week's World Cup qualifying warmup against Azerbaijan in Shizuoka.

Zaccheroni also named Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo and Bolton Wanderers striker Ryo Miyaichi among 10 European-based players for next Wednesday's game, which serves as a tuneup ahead of three final-round World Cup qualifiers in June against Oman, Jordan and Australia in Asian zone Group B.

"This game will give me a good chance to look at the condition of the European-based players and new candidates that are in form in the J.League," said Zaccheroni.

Honda, the driving force as the Blue Samurai reached the second round of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, has not played for Japan since last August, when he scored in a 3-0 defeat of South Korea in a friendly in Sapporo.

He suffered a right-knee injury in a Russian Premier League game against Spartak Moscow later that month and spent a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery in Spain.

"I haven't seen him (Honda) play since August. He is still recovering so I want to have a good look at his condition in training," said Zaccheroni. "If he appears OK, then, of course, I am going to give him a game."

Ariajasuru Hasegawa was handed his first callup and was among four FC Tokyo players, including Japan Under-23 goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda. No players from Gamba Osaka, Cerezo Osaka, Nagoya Grampus or Sagan Tosu were picked as they are involved in J.League action next Friday.

"Hasegawa is doing really well in the J.League and has shown his quality in the middle of the park. I want to see in training if he deserves to play for the national team," said Zaccheroni.

The Italian tactician has also recalled Novara striker Takayuki Morimoto as cover for injured Southampton striker Tadanari Lee.

"He (Morimoto) has been playing pretty well for his club, and with Lee injured and unable to play I have given him the call," said Zaccheroni

Japan takes on Oman and Jordan at Saitama Stadium 2002 on June 3 and 8, respectively, before traveling to Brisbane to take on the Socceroos on June 12. Zaccheroni's men have also been drawn against Iraq in the final round.

The squad:

Goalkeepers — Eiji Kawashima (Lierse), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)

Defenders — Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Yuzo Kurihara (Yokohama F Marinos), Yuhei Tokunaga (FC Tokyo), Masahiko Inoha (Vissel Kobe), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan), Tomoaki Makino (Urawa Reds), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke), Hiroki Sakai (Kashiwa Reysol)

Midfielders — Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg), Hajime Hosogai (Augsburg), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Hideto Takahashi (FC Tokyo), Ariajasuru Hasegawa (FC Tokyo)

Forwards — Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata), Shinji Okazaki (Stuttgart), Takayuki Morimoto (Novara), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund), Genki Haraguchi (Urawa Reds), Ryo Miyaichi (Bolton Wanderers)

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