JAPAN XV 2025 Squad Announced for NZU, HKCR and Māori All Blacks Fixtures

rugbyasia247 Posted On May 19, 2025

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The JAPAN XV 2025 squad has been announced as the team prepares to play the NZ Universities twice in May, facing the Hong Kong China Men, before playing the Māori All Blacks on June 28th.

The 40-man JAPAN XV announced includes 10 players from the Japan U23 national team and several who have played in the Japan Rugby League One this season.

Several players come from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara DynaBoars (7), Yokohama Canon Eagles (4), Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo (12), Toyota Verblitz (5), and Shizuoka Blue Revs. The members also come from the JAPAN TALENT SQUAD Program, which has the aim of developing mainly young university student players. Black Rams’ uncapped Tonga-born centre PJ Latu, 24, is among the names in a JAPAN XV 2025 squad picked by Eddie Jones

The JRFU said, “The program aims to develop world-class players who will be able to wear the Sakura jersey and perform on the global stage at the 2027 World Cup and beyond.

In 2023, the NZU side also toured Japan, and JAPAN XV team director Yoji Nagatomo and the New Zealand Student Representative (NZU) paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Nagano Hiroshi in Beppu City on the 2025 tour, which is the visiting NZU training camp. The NZU side played the Japan U20s and lost 45-52. They face the Japan XV twice (this was originally meant to be once with a U23 fixture, but has since changed).

The Japan XV will then play the Hong Kong China men, who are preparing for the upcoming Asia Rugby Men’s Championship, the winner of which will join the Brave Blossoms from Asia at the Rugby World Cup 2027.

Finally, the Japan XV will turn their attention to a non-capped fixture against the Māori All Blacks on June 28 at Tokyo’s historic Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium.

JAPAN XV Fixture Schedule 2025

The venues and Japan Times are shown below:

Tuesday 20 May – Japan XV vs New Zealand University – Jissoji Sports Grounds, Beppu City 16:00 KO
Saturday 24 May – Japan XV vs New Zealand University – Jissoji Sports Grounds – Oita Sports Park Soccer Rugby Ground 14:00 KO
Saturday 31st May – Japan XV vs HKCR Representative team – Bungo Kikaku Field in Oita 15:00 KO
Saturday 28 June – Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025 – Japan XV vs Māori All Blacks – @Chichibunomiya Rugby Ground, Tokyo