Brave Blossoms 2026 Test against Ireland in Nations Championship to be held in Australia

The venue for the Brave Blossoms versus Ireland Test match as part of the Nations Championship has been confirmed to be Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium on July 11. It was known for some time that the match would not be played at “home” even though it is a home Test for the Japanese, but it means they play twice in Australia over the space of a month.

Photo Credit – JRFU

The scheduling isn’t great for the Brave Blossoms with the extra travel for the second Test of the home matches of the Nations Championship 2026 sandwiched between matches against Italy and France, which are both played in Japan.

Ireland and Japan have played 11 Tests, with the Japanese winning just one, at the 2019 RWC at Shizuoka Stadium.

The Japanese men 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 the Nations Championship 2026. They then play the Wallabies home and away before the away match section of the Nations Championship 2026 tournament.

Brave Blossoms vs Ireland – Nations Championship 2026

The Irish Test will be the first neutral Test hosted in Australia since the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also be the second match hosted at the McDonald Jones Stadium in as many years.  28,132 watched the Wallabies defeat Fiji to open the 2025 season, said Rugby Australia.

The Japan-Ireland Test will kick off directly after tge Wallabies’ Nations Championship match against France at Suncorp Stadium.

President of the Japan Rugby Football Union Masato Tsuchida said, “With Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia just around the corner, we’re delighted to face the formidable Irish team at McDonald Jones Stadium in July, which will also host Japan’s opening match at RWC 2027.

We are sure that Japanese rugby fans will be excited to watch the match at this magnificent stadium, and the Japan national team will be very much looking forward to their stay in the beautiful city of Newcastle.

We would be delighted if the local Australian community would keep an eye on the Japan national team, led by Head Coach Eddie Jones, and consider making the Brave Blossoms their second team come RWC.”

Irish Rugby Football Union President John O’Driscoll added, “The Nations Championship pits rivals from across both hemispheres and we are hugely excited to face Japan in what will be our second game of the forthcoming Nations Championship. We faced each other last November, and this will be our twelfth meeting against the Cherry Blossoms.

There’s enormous respect and familiarity between the two Unions. Every game is played in a positive manner and I expect the July encounter to be no different, coming as it does in the unique setting of McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

Asian International Rugby 2026

• Brave Blossoms 2026 Home Tests and Venues Confirmed.
• WXV Global Series Challenger 2026 To Be Hosted in Hong Kong With Six Teams Involved.
• Asian International Rugby Tournaments 2026.
• Understanding The Nations Championship 2026.