The Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2026 (AREWC) gets underway on Thursday, 30th April at the Almaty Sport Complex with the defending champions, Japan, taking on the hosts, Kazakhstan.
Photo Credit – JRFU / Asia Rugby (AREWC 2025)
Overall, Kazakhstan actually leads the head-to-head over the Sakura Fifteen 7-4, but they have not beaten the Japanese since 2015 – that was the last time they scored points against them in these championships, too.
The AREWC 2026 will once again be played in a three-match, round robin format, and all fixtures are fully capped Test matches.
The hosts will be looking for their first win in the AREWC in three years, while Japan are seeking an 8th title in total (and 7 consecutive titles). Japan have comfortably beaten Kazakhstan over recent years, the winning margins have been: 72-0 in 2023, 64-0 in 2024 and 90-0 in 2025.
Kazakhstan have only mustered 69 points across their last 10 fixtures, and in the 12 tests they have played since 2020, they failed to score in five of the six previous Test losses.
Photo Credit – JRFU / Asia Rugby (AREWC 2025)
Japan Sakura 15s Squad vs Kazakhstan – AREWC 2026 Match#1
Takeshi Arimizu was appointed as Director of Rugby for the Japan Women’s 15-a-side National Team, and for the AREWC 2026, the Sakura 15s will be led by Takeshi Arimizu and acting Head Coach Toshizumi Kitagawa.
This is Japan’s first match since they beat Spain 29-21 at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in September, which was their only win in the tournament. Several players have since retired, and some have signed on to play in the UK, NZ and Australia and will not feature in the AREWC.
For the opening match against the hosts, the defending champions have selected six uncapped players, and their most experienced player, scrumhalf Moe Tsukui, will captain the side as she edges closer to 50 caps (this will be her 46th).
Thirteen players in the squad were part of Japan’s roster for RWC 2025 in England, and Minori Yamamoto is the second-most experienced player with 41 caps for the Sakura Fifteens, who starts among the reserves.
Matchday 23 has an average of 17 test caps per player.
The six players who could earn their first caps are:
- Nanako USHIJIMA (Prop)
- Juka FUJI (Prop)
- Mei OKUBO (Second row)
- Suzuka NAKASHIMA (Scrum-half)
- Kanna HAYASHI (Flyhalf)
- Sawa HARADA (Flyhalf)
You can see more from the JRFU here.
Kazakhstan Squad vs Japan – AREWC 2026 Match#1
Kazakhstan are coached by former South Africa Sevens player Fabian Juries for the second year in the AREWC, and he has selected a blend of veteran and new players for their first Test in nearly a year.
As many as six players in the squad represented Kazakhstan in their Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign at France 2014; Yelena Yurova, Symbat Zhamankulova, Balzhan Koishybayeva, Oxana Shadrina, Veronika Stepanyuga and Natalya Kamendrovskaya.
However, there are also four uncapped players: Diana Andriyenko, Taissya Tyumentseva, Ayaulym Bakytpek and Snezhana Popovich. In the 2025 edition of the tournament, several teenagers were selected, and the 2026 squad features three: Tyumentseva, Bakytpek and Popovich.
Historically, Kazakhstan have won the AREWC five times and been runner-up three times, but they have struggled in recent years.
Photo Credit – Kazakhstan Rugby
Match Permutations
- Japan cannot improve their rating if they defeat Kazakhstan.
- If Japan lose, they are guaranteed to remain in 11th place.
- If Kazakhstan win, they will move above Russia and into 18th place
Photo Credit – JRFU / Asia Rugby (AREWC 2025)
Match Officials Japan vs Kazakhstan AREWC 2026
Sunny Lee Chui Yan (Hong Kong China Rugby) is the match referee and in her 5th international Test. She most recently took charge of the HKCR Women’s play a warmup game, and was in charge of the Women’s Final at the Cathay HSBC Hong Kong Sevens between New Zealand and Australia.
Matt Rodden and Patrick Kwok are the Assistant Referees.
Match Result
Japan 64-12 Kazakhstan
Try Scorers:
Japan: Mana Furuta (12’), Asuka Kuge (17’), Rinka Matsuda (20’, 33’, 36’), Komachi Imakugi (25’), Sachiko Katoh (47’), Kanako Kobayashi (57’), Mei Okubo (67’), Sora Nishimura (69’), Korai Sakurako (76’), Nanako Ushijima (81’)
Kazakhstan: Xeniya Kim (29’, 64’)
How To Watch Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2026
All of the matches will be broadcast via Asia Rugby socials and RugbyPassTV for international audiences.
Asian Rugby News 2026
- Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2026 Preview – Team Guide
- Asian International Rugby Tournaments 2026.
- Hong Kong China Men’s XV Head To South America for July World Rugby Nations Cup 2026 Fixtures.
- Understanding the WXV Global Series 2026-2028.
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