The Japan Rugby Football Union on Friday announced five players had agreed to sign full-time contracts with the governing body in Japan, becoming the first to sign as "professionals" under the JRFU's new contract system.

The five players are Kensuke Iwabuchi of English Premier League club Saracens, Yutaka Tsujimoto of Kintetsu, Akihito Kato of NTT-ME Tohoku, Jun Akune of Tokyo Gas and Hajime Kiso of Yamaha. All are uncapped with the exception of Iwabuchi.

Their contracts with the JRFU will run from May 1 through the end of July. After the contract expires, they will return to their own teams.