Brave Blossoms Add Canada Test To 2026 Home Schedule

The JRFU confirmed that the Men’s XV team, the Brave Blossoms, will host Canada at Denka Big Swan Stadium in Niigata City on Saturday, September 5, 2026, as part of the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup.

This will be the first time in 18 years that Niigata has welcomed top-level international test match rugby, with the previous game being Japan vs Hong Kong in the Asia Five Nations tournament. Niigata is located 320 kilometres north of Tokyo, on the west coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu. The stadium has a capacity of around 40,000.

In a year in which the Japan Rugby Football Union is celebrating 100 years, they have already announced home Tests and non-capped matches against the Maori All Blacks, Italy, France, and Australia.

Japan first played Canada in 1930, which ended up as a 3-3 draw, and they have faced each other 33 times, with Japan having the edge with 19 wins, Canada with 10 wins, and 4 draws. The most recent fixture was Sendai, which Japan won 57–15 as part of the Pacific Nations Cup, and the most recent Canada win was in 2005! Both teams will be heading to the Rugby World Cup 2027.

More will be announced on the kick-off time, ticketing, and broadcast information.

Brave Blossoms Home Matches 2026

• 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)
• July 18th (Saturday) Nations Championship 2026 Japan vs France – Venue: National Stadium (Tokyo)
• Saturday, August 8th: Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026 Japan vs Australia – Venue: Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiosaka City (Osaka)
• Saturday, September 5, 2026: Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026 Japan vs Canada – Venue: Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata City

Japanese Rugby News 2026

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