KUMAGAYA, Saitama Pref. -- Japan's build-up to the 2003 Rugby World Cup received a set back on Sunday when it lost 41-29 to Tonga at the Kumagaya Rugby Ground in Saitama Prefecture.
With the qualifying campaign beginning on June 16 against Korea the team and a crowd of 13,000 were hoping for a good send-off but the Tongans, with a tough series of qualifying games coming up against Fiji and Samoa, ruined the party.
A try by winger Simana Mailei, converted by Pierre Hola, in the sixth minute of injury time dealt Japan the killer blow but the host had been playing catch up rugby since the second minute when it had conceded a try to Teuita Taumoepeau from a line-out five meters out.