Japan Sakura Fifteen Tests Against Ireland for WXV Global Series 2026 Announced

The Japan Sakura Fifteen will head to Ireland for two Tests as part of the WXV Global Series 2026. They are the first matches confirmed for the team since they defended their Asia Rugby Women’s Championship title in Kazakhstan.

Photo Credit – World Rugby / RWC 2025 Japan vs Ireland

Japan are the top-ranked Asian team and the only side from the region to compete in the WXV Global Series 2026, while Hong Kong China will compete in and host the WXV Global Challenger Series in September.

The top 12 teams will compete in a home-and-away touring model as part of the WXV Global Series, but these are the first matches confirmed for the Japanese national Women’s XV team.

The cross-regional league tournament should see each team playing 4 to 6 matches per year during the test match period from September to October.

Japan have won the two Tests they have played in 2026, defeating Kazakhstan 64-12 and Hong Kong China 71-12.

The Irish women have already confirmed they will be playing their first Women’s Test match in Tallaght Stadium in Dublin against the USA before Japan on Sunday, 20 September.

Photo Credit – JRFU – RWC 2025 Japan vs Ireland

Scott Bemand is the Irish Women’s Head Coach, and after the two Japan games, will take his side to South Africa to play them on consecutive weekends in Cape Town at Athlone Stadium on 24 and 31 October as part of the WXV Global Series.

Irish Women’s XV Head Coach Bemand said, “We’re delighted to have our Autumn schedule confirmed, with five Test matches forming an important part of our ongoing development and growth as we look to build on the Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign and continue to grow our Green Wave.

We’re really excited by the opportunities these fixtures present for the squad. Japan and the USA are quality international teams who will challenge us in different ways, and those experiences are invaluable as we continue to grow and develop. We look forward to welcoming them to Ireland.”

Japan Sakura Fifteen vs Ireland Fixtures – WXV Global Series 2026

The two tests are confirmed to take place in Ireland at the end of September and the start of October 2026. In the head-to-head, Ireland has won 7 of the 8 matches played to date, and the last encounter was at RWC 2025, which the Irish won 42-14 in their Pool C game.

The Irish have won all three previous games played in Ireland, and are currently ranked 5th in the world, while Japan is ranked 11th.

The JRFU announced on 1st April 2026 that Takeshi Arimizu was appointed as Director of Rugby for the Japan Women’s 15-a-side National Team. The decision and announcement of the Sakura 15s’ permanent Head Coach is scheduled for the Summer.

Test 1 – Ireland vs Japan Sakura XV

• Date: Sunday, September 27 2026 – Kick-off time TBD
• Venue: Dexcon Stadium (Galway, Ireland)

Test 2 – Ireland vs Japan Sakura XV

• Date: Saturday, October 3 2026 – Kick-off time TBD
• Venue: Virgin Media Park (Cork, Ireland)

Photo Credit – JRFU – RWC 2025 Japan vs Ireland

Previous Results: Japan vs Ireland Women’s XV

• April 23, 1994 – 3-11 (Edinburgh, Scotland)
• May 24, 2002 – 3-23 (Gerona, Spain)
• November 14, 2004 – 0-55 (Dublin, Ireland)
• August 13, 2017 – 14-24 (Dublin, Ireland)
• November 20, 2021 – 12-15 (Dublin, Ireland)
• August 20, 2022 – 22-57 (Shizuoka, Japan)
• August 27, 2022 – 29-10 (Tokyo, Japan)
• August 24, 2025 – 14-42 (Northampton, England)

WXV News 2026

• Understanding the WXV Global Series 2026-2028.
• WXV Global Series Challenger 2026.
• Asian International Rugby Tournaments 2026.