TOKYO (MAR 01) – John Kirwan named a 62-man squad Monday ahead of this summer’s test matches, which kick off on May first in Daegu against South Korea in the HSBC Asian Five Nations.

Following games against Arabian Gulf, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong in Tokyo, Japan then hopes to play a game against a South Africa President’s XV before travelling south for the IRB Pacific Nations Cup.

But for now, Kirwan is focused on nothing but the Asian tournament.

“This year, the most important thing is the HSBC Asian Five Nations, which are also the qualifiers for the World Cup,” he said. “The most important thing is to secure that qualification so I will take the best team available. We are totally committed to our first goal, which is getting to the World Cup.”

With the ever ever-growing number of Korean players in the Japan Rugby Top League, Kirwan is under no illusions that the opening game was critical to his side’s hopes of picking up Asia’s automatic berth at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

“We are targeting South Korea,” he said. “The Korean game will be the hardest along with Hong Kong at the end so we will be picking our strongest side to start the tournament.”

Monday’s press conference was also attended by HSBC Japan President and CEO Stuart Milne.

“Since kicking off in 2008, the HSBC Asian Five Nations has grown into the region’s preeminent rugby tournament and is now a firm fixture in the international rugby calendar,” he said.

“This year’s tournament features 31 matches and, importantly, 10 of them will serve as final qualifiers for the next Rugby World Cup.”

Milne went on to say that with Japan being awarded the right to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup rugby was on a roll in Asia.

Japan have yet to be beaten in the tournament but Kirwan made it clear he would not be taking the opposition lightly.

“While we are hoping to give everyone in the squad a game, we will be picking our best members,” he said. “I am certainly picking a team to win and get qualification. We can’t afford to take any risks.”

The expanded squad, which includes nine university students, will have medical and fitness tests later this month before Kirwan cuts it to 30.

“The 30 selected have one foot in the door for the World Cup,” he said. “But they need to understand they have to make sure the team takes the next step up.”

Five young players will also travel with the squad as Kirwan looks beyond 2011 to the 2015 World Cup in England.