Wingers Akihito Yamada and Yoshikazu Fujita, who both played a part in Japan’s stunning rugby World Cup campaign last year, have been dropped from the country’s rugby sevens squad for the Olympic Games, the Japan Rugby Football Union said.

Yamada had seen limited playing time with the sevens squad under head coach Tomohiro Segawa, and a calf injury sustained late last month interrupted the Sunwolves player’s training ahead of the squad selection for the Olympics.

Kenki Fukuoka, who was also part of the ‘Brave Blossoms’ World Cup squad, was included in the squad, which will be captained by Yusaku Kuwazuru as rugby union returns to the Games for the first time in 92 years in the sport’s shorter format.