Asahi Drink Challengers and Japan linebacker Shinzo Yamada has been invited to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' training camp, his agent announced Wednesday.
The 181-cm, 103-kg Yamada, 29, played for the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe this spring and helped Japan win the World Cup of American football in Germany last weekend.
He also played in the now-defunct XFL in 2001 and led the Challengers to the X League championship in 2000 and 2001.
The Buccaneers' camp is scheduled to start July 18 in Tampa, Fla. Yamada is to return to Japan with the Bucs when the team takes part in the NFL Tokyo 2003 where the defending Super Bowl champion play the New York Jets at Tokyo Dome on Aug. 2. Yamada is expected to see some action in the game.