Japan Sakura Fifteens and Brave Blossoms 2025 Domestic Fixtures Announced

The JRFU has confirmed the first domestic Sakura Fifteens Women’s test matches before they head to the Rugby World Cup 2025, as well as the Men’s Japan XV and Brave Blossoms matches due to be played in 2025 in Japan.

Updated September 2025 – results, fixtures and match officials

Sakura Fifteens – 2025 Test Matches

Image Credit – JRFU

Confirmed Domestic Match Schedule 2025 – Sakura Fifteens

In February 2025, the JRFU confirmed that Japan will host Spain for a two-test series ahead of RWC 2025 – the fixtures are especially relevant as the two sides will face each other in Pool C in England on September 7, 2025, during the Women’s tournament. They will also play against Ireland and New Zealand.

Japan and Spain have faced each other three times previously, with the Europeans holding a 2-1 record over the Japanese women.

JRFU President, Masato Tsuchida said, “We are honoured to welcome the Spanish Women’s National Team – Las Leonas, a powerhouse of European rugby to Japan. With the Rugby World Cup coming to England in August, this year will mark a pivotal moment in the development of the women’s game worldwide.

The Sakura Fifteen will take centre stage, drawing greater attention than ever. Ahead of their departure to England, they will showcase the culmination of their progress in these send-off matches, vowing to excel on the global stage.”

2024 was a challenging year for Head Coach Lesley McKenzie and her Sakura Fifteens, with the team winning only three and drawing one of ten test matches.

Japan did retain the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship in 2024, and McKenzie said via the JRFU: “We don’t want to be at next year’s World Cup as participants, we want to be competitors. With the speed at which the international game is travelling, in terms of the shift towards professionalisation and centralisation, and teams becoming bigger, fitter, stronger, faster and with better skill levels, a lot of Japan’s traditional points of difference have been eroded. It’s a huge challenge for us to take that acceleration in our stride and to try and match it, and hopefully better it.”

In Janaury 2025, the JRFU confirmed the following potential Sakura Fifteens matches in 2025:

• April 12-27 – North America Tour – USA Women’s Eagles 33-39 Japan –  Saturday, April 26 at Wallis Annenberg Stadium in Los Angeles

Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2025

• May 15 2025: Japan 90-0 Kazakhstan – Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2025 (JAPAN BASE. Fukuoka KO 1PM local time)
• May 25 2025: Hong Kong China 5-63 Japan – Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2025 (JAPAN BASE. Fukuoka KO 1PM local time)

• July 8-27 – Domestic Final Training Camp and domestic test matches vs Spain (Confirmed – See more about the series here)
• Japan Sakura Fifteen 32-19 Spain – Saturday, July 19, 2025, Kitakyushu 18:00 KO
• Japan Sakura Fifteen 30-19 Spain – Saturday, 26 July 2025, Tokyo 17:05 KO
• August 2-12 – Italy Tour – Japan 15-33 Italy – Saturday, August 9, at Stadio San Michele in Calvisano KO 19:30 local time (You can read more here)

RWC 2025 (confirmed) – August 13th – September 20th

• Japan 14-42 Ireland –  Sunday, 24 August 2025 @Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
• Japan 19-62 NZ –  Sunday 31 August 2025 @Sandy Park, Exeter
• Japan 29-21 Spain – Sunday 7th September 2025 @York Community Stadium, York

Brave Blossoms & Japan XV 2025 Matches

Image Credit – JRFU

Japan’s national men’s fifteens sides, the Brave Blossoms and Japan XV, will see their schedule in 2025 start with a non-capped fixture between the Japan XV and Māori All Blacks on June 28 at Tokyo’s historic Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium.

In the first capped matches of the year for the Japanese men, the Brave Blossoms will host struggling Wales for a two-test series in Kitakyushu on July 5 and Kobe on July 12. Japan has only beaten the Welsh once in 14 matches

Japan will then play host to Canada on August 30 in Sendai for their Pool B match in the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup – Japan were runners-up in 2024, losing to Fiji in the final. Japan leads the head-to-head over Canada, with 18 wins, 10 losses and 4 draws in the 32 tests played to date.

The most mouth-watering match will see current Brave Blossoms Head Coach Eddie Jones prepare his side for the visit of his former team, the Wallabies from Australia in a one-off test match on October 25, at Tokyo’s National Stadium. Japan is yet to beat the two-time World Champions in six attempts, and the Australians themselves are hosting the British & Irish Lions this year.

 JRFU President, Masato Tsuchida commented, “We are looking forward to seeing the continued and accelerated development of a new generation of young talent through initiatives such as the JAPAN TALENT SQUAD 2025, set to launch in February. Additionally, Japan Rugby League One, which features many national team players, is becoming increasingly competitive, delivering matches of world-class calibre. We eagerly anticipate the national team’s matches from June, with a squad honed to perform at the highest level.”

In 2024, the Brave Blossoms finished the year with four wins from 11 test matches and Eddie Jones said; “At the last World Cup, Japan had the oldest squad, so we had to change the team and with that comes some pain. But we’re making a massive investment for the future. Going into the next World Cup we need a team with 500 to 600 caps – we’re currently playing with about 200. That inexperience has shown at crucial times – where a small moment is missed, possession is handed to the opposition, which then doubles in terms of its impact.”

Japan Men’s National Team Domestic Match Schedule 2025

Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025

• Japan XV 20-53 Māori All Blacks (non-capped match) – Saturday 28 June, 2025 – @Chichibunomiya Rugby Ground, Tokyo

Match Officials

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

• Japan 24-19 Wales – Saturday 5 July 2025  – @Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu

See more about the Wales tour to Japan here.

Match Officials 

Referee: Damian Schneider (UAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Luke Pearce (RFU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZR)

• Japan 22-31 Wales – Saturday 12 July 2025 – @Noevir Stadium, Kobe

Match Officials

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
FPRO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

• Japan vs Australia  – Saturday 25 October, 2025 – @National Stadium, Tokyo

It was also announced that the Japan XV would play Australia A at Yodoko Sakura Stadium in Osaka on Saturday, October 18 2025. You can view the full list of overseas fixtures for the team here.

Pacific Nations Cup 2025

See more about the PNC 2025 here.

• Japan 57-15 Canada (Pool B) – Saturday 30 August, 2025 – @Yurtec Stadium, Sendai
• USA 21-47 Japan (Pool B) – Saturday, 6 September – @Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
• Semi-finals & Play-offs – Sunday, 14 September – @ DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, Denver, Colorado
• Japan 62-24 Tonga Semifinal
• Finals Week –  Saturday, 20 September – @ America First Field, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Japan 27-33 Fiji Final

Japan Rugby News 2025

• First Sakura Fifteen 2025 Training Squad Announced – 2025 Tours And Tests Lined Up.
• Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 Pools Confirmed – Japan in Pool C.
• Pacific Nations Cup 2025 Details Announced.
• Three Japanese Women Players Sign Up For Super Rugby W 2025 Season.