Japan has named uncapped flyhalf Ryunosuke Ito to start their first Nations Championship test against ‌Italy at Tokyo’s Chichibunomiya ⁠Rugby Stadium on ⁠Saturday.

Ito, 21, is one of four ⁠uncapped players in the matchday squad along with prop Sojiro Otsuka, Australian-born lock ‌Michael Stolberg ⁠and scrumhalf Itsuki Kamimura, ​who were all named as replacements.

Warner Dearns, who had an outstanding season in Super Rugby Pacific, captains the side from the second row. Former skipper Michael Leitch looks set to win his 93rd cap from the ⁠bench.

​Japan ​also play Ireland ‌in Australia and host France in Tokyo ‌in the July portion of the inaugural ​Nations Championship.

Forwards coach Neil Hatley named the Japan team in ⁠the absence of Eddie Jones, who is serving a ⁠four-match ban imposed on him by the Japan Rugby Football Union for abusing officials.