JRFU Fixtures 2024 – Brave Blossoms, Japan XV, Sakura XV
The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) has announced a raft of international fixtures for the Brave Blossoms and Japan XV in 2024, with details for the Women’s Sakura XV still to be confirmed.
Updated 21 April 2024
Lipotivan D Challenge Cup 2024
The Brave Blossoms will see their new (returning) coach Eddie Jones face one of his previously coached international teams, England, twice in 2024. The Japanese first take on England at home as part of the Lipotivan D Challenge Cup 2024 on 22nd June in Tokyo at the National Stadium. This will be the first official test match played between the two nations in Japan.
The Japan XV then have a tough two-match series against the visiting Maori All Blacks before the national team plays Georgia and Italy in July 2024.
The Series ends with a test match against the All Blacks on October 26th at Nissan Stadium.
Commenting on the Japanese national fixtures, JRFU President, Masato Tsuchida said:
“We’re honoured to welcome Georgia and Italy to Japan this summer, in addition to England, and the All Blacks and Māori All Blacks from New Zealand, and to host these incredible matches in front of our home fans….We are blessed with wonderful host cities and stadia, and we are delighted to be able to work with local communities to prepare for these fixtures.”
The Brave Blossoms will play England for a second time in 2024 when they head to Twickenham on 23 November. Japan have yet to taste victory against an English side even though they have played a dozen times – with the English currently ranked fifth in the world.
Eddie Jones said: “With England coming to Japan in June and now this return match announced for Twickenham in the Autumn, we have a fantastic opportunity to test ourselves against one of the best sides in the world. Twickenham is truly one of the world’s great rugby stadiums, with an incredible atmosphere and a superb pitch. Like the match in Tokyo, the atmosphere will be electric, and it will be an experience the players will never forget.”
It was also confirmed in February 2024, that former RWC-winning Springbok Victor Matfield had joined as a consultant for the Men’s team.
In Apri 2024, it was announced that the Brave Blossoms will also play France in Paris on November 9 as part of the Lipovitan D Tour 2024. Head Coach Eddie Jones said: “To play France in Paris will be a formidable challenge, but we want to test ourselves consistently against sides of this calibre, in hostile away environments, to grow into the team we want to be.”
Japanese International Fixtures 2024
- Brave Blossoms vs England – June 22 2024
- Japan XV vs The Maori All Blacks – June 29 2024
- Japan XV vs The Maori All Blacks – July 6 2024
- Brave Blossoms vs Georgia – 13 July 2024
- Brave Blossoms vs Italy – 21 July 2024
- Brave Blossoms vs All Blacks – October 26 2024
- France vs Brave Blossoms – 9 November 2024
- England vs Brave Blossoms – 23 November 2024
The JRFU has said that some information such as dates, kick-off times, ticketing and broadcast information will be announced in due course.
Pacific Nations Cup 2024
In 2023, it was already confirmed that the Japan XV national side would be competing in the new Pacific Nations Cup in 2024, which sees them facing Canada & the USA in the North America/Japan pool with the finals also set to be played in Japan.
Details on matches are still to be announced with the fixtures due to be played in August and September 2024.
World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024 – Japan XV
The World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024 features the national ‘A’ teams of Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Japan XV in Apia, Samoa from 10-20 April 2024.
- Manuma Samoa v Japan XV – 16:00 – Apia Park – 10 April 2024
- Fiji Warriors v Japan XV – 13:15 – Apia Park – 15 April 2024
- Japan XV v Tonga A – 12:15 – Apia Park – 20 April 2024
Update 21 April 2024 – The Japan XV won the title after winning all three matches in Samoa!
Sakura Fifteen – 2024 Fixtures
Little has been announced for the Japanese Women’s XV national team, but the 2024 Asia Rugby Women’s Championship dates were confirmed and the Sakura will once again face Kazakhstan and Hong Kong China Rugby in Hong Kong.
The top two sides of the ARWC 2024 will head to the WXV 2024 and this year the ARWC 2024 also acts as a Rugby World Cup 2025 qualifier.
Several Sakura XV players will be competing in overseas leagues in 2024.
2024 Asia Rugby Women’s Championship Fixtures
- 22 May 2024 – HKCR vs Japan
- 27 May 2024 – Japan vs Kazakhstan
- 1st June 2024 – Kazakhstan vs HKCR
The winner of the ARWC 20024 directly qualifies for the Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025.
WXV 2024
The WXV 2024 takes place from September – October with the hosts being Canada (WXV 1), South Africa (WXV 2) and Dubai (WXV 3). The winner of ARWC heads to WXV2 and the runner-up will play WXV3 in 2024.
Japan U20 & Japan National High School Team – 2024 Fixtures
2024 World Rugby U20 Trophy Tournament – Scotland
The Japan U20 team will be playing in the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship which takes place in Scotland from 2-17 July 2024.
A JRFU camp was first held in March 2024 and the team will be looking to bounce back to reach the U20 Championship which they were relegated from in 2023. The Japan U20s will be in Pool A in Scotland with the hosts, Hong Kong China and the Oceania qualifier (TBC).
Pool Matches – 2024 World Rugby U20 Trophy
- Matchday 1: Tuesday, 2 July 2024
- Matchday 2: Sunday 7, July 2024
- Matchday 3: Friday 12, July 2024
Final & Ranking Matches – 2024 World Rugby U20 Trophy
- Matchday 4: Wednesday 17th July 2024
Japan National High School Rugby – 2024 Italy tour
In February 2024, the JRFU confirmed that 26 athletes were selected to represent the Japan National High School Rugby team with plans to tour Italy in March 2024 and play against the Italian U19 side.
- Match #1 20 March 2024 KO 7:00 pm
- Match #2 March 24th 2024 KO 2:00 pm
2024 International Rugby Tournaments
- Guide To The Asia Rugby 2024 International Tournaments.
- WXV 2024 Details Confirmed – WXV 3 Heads Back To Dubai.
- Melrose Shield Competition Confirmed For 2024 Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
- Cross-Border Rugby 2024 – A New Chapter For Japan and New Zealand Rugby.