Former Australian captain Mark Ella has been enlisted by the Japan Rugby Football Union to help national coach Shogo Mukai in the build up to this year's Rugby World Cup in October, the JRFU announced Friday.

Ella, 43, who was a key member of the 1984 Grand slam winning Wallabies, was appointed technical adviser, while fellow Australian Mark Bell, 34, was named scrum coach.

They will join the team for a training camp in Queensland in March, before the team plays a series of internationals in its build up to RWC 2003, including tours by Australia A in June and England A in July, and games in the inaugural Super Cup against Russia, China and the U.S.