The national champion Fujitsu Frontiers led the way with 21 players selected to Japan's national team, it was revealed on Sunday, when the American Football Association of Japan announced the first provisional 81 candidates for this summer's world championship.

The Obic Seagulls, the Frontiers' archrivals, had the second-most players with 16, followed by 11 each from the Lixil Deers and the Panasonic Impulse.

Six players from the college level made the initial roster, which will be cut to 75 midway through May following the first of two minicamps scheduled for May 23-24 in Tokyo.