Japan XV vs Australia A Preview – Asahi Super Dry Challenge

Japan XV will take on Australia A in the Asahi Super Dry Challenge match on Saturday, October 18, at the Yodoko Sakura Stadium in Osaka, before they head to Hong Kong next weekend for the team’s final announced match of 2025 – We preview the Japan XV vs Australia A fixture and look at team selections.

The Japan XV have lost to the Māori All Blacks and beaten the New Zealand University side twice, as well as defeating a Hong Kong China Representative team in 2025. They have played the Australia A team seven times since 2003 and have only been victorious once.

The training squad Japan Head Coach Eddie Jones confirmed a couple of weeks ago has already seen players drop out and be replaced. For the team he has selected this weekend, there are two university players; Yoshitaka Yazaki from Waseda University starts at fullback, and Rikuto Nakaya (Doshisha University) is among the reserves.

Brave Blossom’s Assistant Coach, and Acting Head Coach for the Australia A fixture, Neal Hatley said, “We’ve announced what we think is the strongest side for this game. It’s a great mix of players that toured with the PNC, as well as some young men who have been desperate for an opportunity and who we think need to be rewarded. Then we’ve also got some guys returning to the national team setup, with players like Yoshitaka Yazaki and Siosaia Fifita.”

The Japan XV side features members of several Japan Rugby League One teams, and flank Akito Okui from Toyota Verblitz will lead the side out in front of a home crowd.

Hatley said of the captain Okui, “Aki has forced his way into the squad by how well he’s been training. He’s been fantastic for us. He is part of our leadership group, so he’s not just a good number seven; he’s also a great team man who leads from the front. It was an easy selection in terms of the captaincy, and we’re really happy with the contribution that he’s made. Not just this week for the JAPAN XV, but for the entire team as part of the PNC squad. He’s been a huge influence on the group.”

Other players of note are David Van Zeeland ( Kubota Spears), an Australian-born player who will start in the second row, flanker Tyler Paul (URAYASU D-Rocks), who is a former Eastern Province, Southern Kings, and Sharks player from South Africa, Halatoa Vailea (Kubota Spears) on the left wing, and Siosaia Fifita (who has represented Japan at the Junior level, U20s and for the Brave Blossoms) is at inside centre.

Jones said, “We will use players who we feel need game time before the match against the Wallabies and upcoming test matches.”

Australia A coach is Western Force’s Simon Cron, and he has named hooker Matt Faessler to captain the Australia A side, which includes nine Wallabies in the matchday 23. Pete Samu and Ben Donaldson are the vice-captains.

Backrower Pete Samu will represent Australia for the first time since 2023 and starts at No.8, while 2024 Rugby Australia Rookie of the Year Tim Ryan has been named on the wing.

Cron said, “The squad has had a great week here in Osaka for what’s going to be a high-quality match against a well-prepared Japan XV side. There are a number of guys in the team who are earning international experience for the first time, while there are others who have competed at the highest level over a number of seasons. They’re all equally excited to perform well in Australian colours on Saturday.”

Former 125-capped Australian player Michael Hooper, who played last season in the Japan Rugby League One and will be a coach consultant for Toyota Verblitz this season, added, “When we play against the Japanese, I’m impressed by their fitness and physicality, especially their strength at the breakdown.”

33-cap Samu, as well as Matt Faessler, Josh Canham and Hamish Stewart, will join the Wallabies squad in Tokyo after Saturday.

Following the Australia A match, a JAPAN XV squad will head to play Hong Kong China on Friday, 24 October at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, while the Test team will prepare for the match against the Wallabies on Saturday, 25 October at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

• Saturday 18 October – JAPAN XV vs Australia A – YODOKO Sakura Stadium, Osaka
• Friday 24 October – Hong Kong China vs JAPAN XV – Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong

How To Watch Japan XV vs Australia A

The match is due to be broadcast in Japan on J SPORTS 2 (LIVE) and J SPORTS On Demand (Live Transmission) and on Stan Sports in Australia.

Japan/Japan XV vs Australia A: Previous Results

• October 14, 2022 (W) 52-48 Osaka
• October 8, 2022 (L) 21-22 Fukuoka
• October 1, 2022 (L) 22-34 Tokyo
• June 8, 2008 (L) 21-42 Fukuoka
• June 9, 2007 (L) 71-10 Townsville
• June 8, 2003 (L) 15-66 Tokyo
• June 5, 2003 (L) 5-63 Osaka

Japan XV Squad vs Australia A – Asahi Super Dry Challenge 2025

You can see more about the Japan XV squad here from the JRFU.

Australia A Squad vs Japan XV – Asahi Super Dry Challenge 2025

You can see more about the squad from Rugby Australia here.

Mac Grealy, Tim Ryan, Joey Walton, Hamish Stewart, Ollie Sapsford, Ben Donaldson, Teddy Wilson, Pete Samu, Luke Reimer, Rory Scott, Josh Canham, Darcy Swain, Rhys van Nek, Matt Faessler (c), Isaac Kailea

Reserves: Ethan Dobbins, Lington Ieli, Dan Botha, Seru Uru, Joe Brial, Henry Robertson, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Lachlan Anderson

Japan Brave Blossoms October-November 2025 Schedule

The Japan squad departs for the tough end-of-year tour, which includes fixtures against the Springboks, Ireland, Wales, and Georgia. They will need to target wins in the last two games to secure as high a ranking as possible before the Rugby World Cup 2027 draw is held in December 2025.

• Saturday 25 October – Japan vs Australia – National Stadium, Tokyo
• Saturday 1 November – Japan vs South Africa – Wembley, London
  Saturday 8 November – Ireland vs Japan – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
• Saturday 15 November – Wales vs Japan – Cardiff
• Saturday 22 November – Georgia vs Japan – Tbilisi

Asian Rugby Matches 2025

• Japan Brave Blossoms & Japan XV Training Squads for Remainder of 2025 Announced.
• Hong China Men’s XVs Representative Team Set For Debut at Kai Tak Stadium Against Japan XV in October 2025.
• Logan Asplin Steps Into Hong Kong China Men’s XVs Head Coach Role.
• Brave Blossoms Lipovitan D Tour 2025 Fixtures In Europe Confirmed.