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

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.

Updated – Matchday Squads & Results

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 78-28 New Zealand University  – Jissoji Sports Grounds, Beppu City 16:00 KO

You can see highlights of the 20th May Match here.

• Saturday 24 May – Japan XV 30-21 New Zealand University  –  Jissoji Sports Grounds – Oita Sports Park Soccer Rugby Ground 14:00 KO
• Saturday 31st May – Japan XV 64-12 HKCR Representative team – Beppu Municipal Jisso-ji Multipurpose Ground in Oita 15:30 KO
• (The Japan Rugby Football Union changed the venue for the warm-up match between JAPAN XV and Hong Kong China National Team from Bungo Kikaku Field (Oita City) to Beppu Municipal Jisso-ji Multipurpose Ground (Beppu City) due to poor ground conditions, and the KO time changed)

You can see the match highlights from the Hong Kong China match below:

• Saturday 28 June – Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025 – Japan XV vs Māori All Blacks – @Chichibunomiya Rugby Ground, Tokyo

Tickets for the upcoming Japan XV vs Maori All Blacks are available via the JRFU.

Match Officials Japan XV vs Māori All Blacks

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

JAPAN XV Training Squad – 2025

JAPAN XV Squad vs New Zealand University Squad 20 May 2025

13 in the Japan XV matchday squad to play NZU in the first game come from Japan Rugby League One teams.

New Zealand University Squad vs JAPAN XV 20 May 2025

JAPAN XV Squad vs New Zealand University Squad 24 May 2025

You can see more on the Japan XV matchday squad to play NZU in the second via the JRFU.

New Zealand University Squad vs JAPAN XV 24 May 2025

See more of the confirmed NZU squad here.

JAPAN XV Squad vs HKCR 31 May 2025

JRFU announced the squad details to play the Hong Kong China team here.

Hong Kong China Men’s Squad – Japan Training Camp (24 May – 1 June 2025)

Team Management: 

Andrew DOUGLAS (Head Coach)
Lewis EVANS (Coach)
Logan ASPLIN (Coach)
Marno MEYER (Coach)
Alex ALLAN (Coach)
Pete NUGENT (S&C Coach)
Andy YUEN (Analyst)
Henry ELLIOTT (Physiotherapist)
Jonathan MOSES (Physiotherapist)
Charles CHEUNG (Team Manager)

Players: 

1. Sunia FAMEITAU (HKU Sandy Bay)
2. Rory CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay)
3. Zacceus CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay)
4. Faizal SOLOMONA PENESA (HK Scottish)
5. Keelan CHAPMAN (Hong Kong Football Club)
6. Alexander POST (Richmond)
7. Calum SCOTT (London Scottish)
8. Harry BARON (HK Scottish)
9. Patrick JENKINSON (Hong Kong Football Club)
10. Jamie PINCOTT (HK Scottish)
11. Mark PRIOR (HKU Sandy Bay)
12. Tyler McNUTT (Hong Kong Football Club)
13. Callum McCULLOUGH (Hong Kong Football Club)
14. Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST (Hong Kong Football Club)
15. James SAWYER (Kowloon)
16. Joshua HRSTICH © (Hong Kong Football Club)
17. Luke VAN DER SMIT (Valley)
18. Jack BARTLETT (Hong Kong Football Club)
19. Alessandro NARDONI (HK Scottish)
20. Gregor McNEISH (HK Scottish)
21. Nathan DE THIERRY (Hunter Wildfires)
22. Joseph BARKER (Kowloon)
23. Thomas HILL (Hong Kong Football Club)
24. Ben AXTEN-BURRETT (Hong Kong Football Club)
25. Maxwell THRELKELD (HKU Sandy Bay)
26. Harry SAYERS (Valley)
27. Max DENMARK (Hong Kong Football Club)
28. Matteo AVITABILE (Hong Kong Football Club)
29. James CHRISTIE (HK Scottish)
30. Jack COMBES (USRC Tigers)

How To Watch JAPAN XV 2025 Matches

JRFU so far have announced that the Japan XV matches against NZU and HKCR will only be available via the paid-for J SPORTS On Demand.

Japanese 15s Rugby News 2025

• Japan U20 vs New Zealand Students – May 2025.
• Japan Sakura Fifteens and Brave Blossoms 2025 Domestic Fixtures Announced.
• New JRLO Player Eligibility Rules For 2026/2027 Season – What Do They Actually Mean?
• Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2025 – Your Definitive Guide.