Soccer-Rugby players help Nakamura with free kicks

TOKYO, June 30 (Reuters) - Japan's free kick specialist Shunsuke Nakamura has turned to the national rugby side's hulking front row to help him practice for the Asian Cup.

Nakamura fizzed his trademark free kicks over a wall of five towering rugby players at a secret mountain training camp earlier this month, Japan's media reported on Saturday.

"That was hard work," the Celtic midfielder told reporters after his unusual workout with players averaging 1.95 metres in height. "It was the biggest wall I've ever seen!"

Japan will be bidding for a third consecutive Asian Cup titles after winning campaigns in 2000 and 2004.

This year's tournament takes place from July 7-29 and will be staged jointly by Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

Japan are in Group B with Vietnam, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.