Brave Blossoms 2026 Home Tests and Venues Confirmed

With the home 2026 Tests previously announced for the Brave Blossoms, the venues and details have now been confirmed by the JRFU as the Japan Men’s National Team looks to compete in the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026 and Nations Championship 2026.

Updated April 30 2026 

The Men’s start off the season with the non-capped match against the Maori All Blacks on June 27th as part of the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026, before Tests against Italy, Ireland and France in the Nations Championship 2026. They then play the Wallabies home and away before the away match section of the Nations Championship 2026 tournament*.

The Japanese have played the Maori All Blacks six times and only won once. Last year, the Japan XV lost 20-53 in Tokyo.

The Brave Blossoms will be looking to secure just a third win against Italy in 11 Tests, and they are yet to beat the French in 14 Tests (with 13 losses and a draw). They are also yet to taste victory against the Wallabies in 7 Tests, but came close in 2025 with a 15-19 defeat in Tokyo.

Masato Tsuchida, Chairman of the Japan Rugby Football Union, said via the JRFU: “With the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia coming up next year, this year will be a crucial one for the Japan national team, with every game having great significance.

We will continue to prepare so that together with all our fans who always support us, we can celebrate this joyous moment in a packed stadium. We ask for your enthusiastic support as you look forward to the progress of the Japanese national team as they challenge for the top spot in the world.”       

• In March 2026, they also announced a Test vs Canada to be played at Denka Big Swan Stadium in Niigata City on Saturday, September 5, 2026
• The Japan vs Ireland match is the second fixture of home Tests in the Nations Championship on July 11, and the details for this were released on 22 April 2026.

2026 Japan Men’s National Team Domestic Match Schedule　　　

• Saturday, June 27th: Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026 JAPAN XV vs Maori All Blacks – Venue: Paloma Mizuho Stadium (Aichi) *Cap not applicable

• July 4th (Saturday) Nations Championship 2026 Japan vs Italy – Venue: Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium (Tokyo) – 17:40 kickoff
• July 18th (Saturday) Nations Championship 2026 Japan vs France – Venue: National Stadium (Tokyo) – 17:40 kickoff
• Saturday, August 8th: Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026 Japan vs Australia – Venue: Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiosaka City (Osaka) – 19:05 kickoff
• Saturday, September 5, 2026: Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026 Japan vs Canada – Venue: Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata City – 14:50 kickoff

You can read more about the first camp called by Head Coach Eddie Jones and the players selected in our article at AllThingsRugby.

Confirmed Away Tests 2026

Of the match being hosted in Australia, Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh said, “The Rugby World Cup in Australia is a year away, and the rugby-loving community in the Hunter will get an early experience of our great international game when the fast-improving Japan take on world No. 3 Ireland in Newcastle this July.

Australia is blessed with some of the best sporting infrastructure in the world and, together with our valued partners at Venues NSW and the City of Newcastle, we are thrilled to host Eddie Jones, Andy Farrell and their squads for an historic Nations Championship Test at McDonald Jones Stadium.”

• July 11th (Saturday) Nations Championship 2026 – Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium (Newcastle, Australia), Japan vs Ireland 8PM KO
• August 15th (Saturday) 2026, Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium (Townsville, Australia), Australia vs Japan 3 PM KO
• Nations Championship 2026 Round Four (6-8 November) – Wales v Japan
• Nations Championship 2026 Round Five (13-15 November) – England v Japan
• Nations Championship 2026 Round Six (21 November) – Scotland v Japan

How To Watch The Brave Blossoms Tests in 2026

The JRFU confirmed that the home Tests vs Italy and France will be live on WOWOW & WOWOW On Demand.

The Tests against Australia and Canada details are:

• Japan vs Australia (August 8th) – Broadcast (Live): BS Nippon Television 19:00- / J SPORTS 18:35- /  Live Streaming: Hulu 19:00- / J SPORTS On Demand 18:35- (*Broadcast/streaming times and channels are subject to change.
• Japan vs Canada (September 5th)  – Broadcast (Live): Nippon Television Network (NTV) Nationwide 14:30- / J SPORTS 14:20- / Streaming (Live): Hulu 14:30- / J SPORTS On Demand 14:20-  *Broadcast/streaming times and channels are subject to change.

You can see more from the JRFU here.

Asian Rugby News 2026

• Japan Brave Blossoms Confirmed to Play the Wallabies Twice in 2026.
• Understanding The World Rugby Nations Cup 2026.
• Understanding The Nations Championship 2026.
• Japan Will Join the Expanded World Rugby U20 Championship in 2026.