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Pieter Labuschagne will not play against Chile at the World Cup. Japan’s opening World Cup match will be against Los Cóndores in Toulouse on September 10. Labuschagne is out of the match through suspension.
The South African flanker was red carded playing for Japan last weekend. World Rugby handed Labuschagne a three match suspension that will be reduced to two if he participates in a Coaching Intervention regime. His participation will free him up to play in Japan’s second World Cup fixture which will be against England.
The incident saw Labuschagne red carded for a dangerous tackle (Law 9.13). Japan lost the match 35-12 loss against Fiji. It was the second Japanese red card in warm-up matches against Oceania opponents. Fellow flanker Michael Leitch was red carded against Samoa. Leitch will be free to face Chile.
The now 34-year-old Labuschagne debuted for Japan in 2019. He did so against Fiji in a RWC 2019 warm-up match. He played in all five of Japan’s matches at RWC 2019 and even captained the side. Japan faced Russia, Ireland, Samoa, and Scotland in their pool and South Africa in the Quarter Finals.
The 2019 Quarter Final marked the first time that Asia had had a team in the final eight. Japan join Argentina, England, Chile and Samoa in Pool D of RWC 2023. Reaching a second World Cup quarter final will require Japan to win three of these matches.
RWC 2023 will be the first time that Japan, and any country, has faced two South American teams in the same tournament. The match between Argentina and Chile in Nantes will be the first-ever Rugby World Cup match between two South American countries.
Rosters for the World Cup are presently being finalized. Argentina, England and Samoa have all announced their squads. The Japanese roster will be named on August 15.
