Sakura Fifteen Confirm Italy Fixture Ahead of RWC 2025

The JRFU have announced the details for the Sakura Fifteen match in Italy for a one-off test match against Le Azzurre before the Rugby World Cup 2025. The match will take place on Saturday, August 9, at Stadio San Michele in Calvisano and will be the third consecutive warm-up match against Italy in as many years.

The Japanese women’s national XV side has faced Italy seven times, and each of the past two years in one-off tests ahead of the WXV2 tournament in both 2023 and 2024, and to date, Italy has won five of those encounters with one draw and a sole Sakura XV win.

Japan recorded their only victory over Le Azzurre in 2023, 24–25 in the northern Italian city of Parma.

The team has won all of their matches in 2025 as they prepare for a tough pool stage in England at RWC 2025. They beat the USA in Los Angeles in April,  and then defeated Kazakhstan and Hong Kong China during the Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship in Japan to retain the Championship.

They will next host their RWC Pool C rivals Spain for a two-test series in July.

Sakura Fifteen Head Coach Lesley McKenzie said via the JRFU, “This is a great game for us as we make our final preparations for the World Cup. We are familiar with Italy from previous years, but they will be making their own bid for great performances in England, so we expect them to be both a very tough task and to present some unfamiliar pictures for us.

Italy are under a new coach who’s had this year’s Six Nations to work his way into the role, and they’ve shown some really pressurising rugby in their last few games. In addition to that, they’ve got an experienced, skilful squad with players who’ll be excited to be peaking right around this time. It should be exactly what we need, and I’m appreciative that we’ve developed this relationship with Italy.”

The JRFU added that how they compete against Spain and Italy in the lead-up to England 2025 will give a good indication of where they stand ahead of what is expected to be the biggest Women’s World Cup yet.

How To Watch Sakura 15 vs Italy – August 2025

The match will take place on Saturday, August 9, 2025, kickoff at 19:30 local time at Stadio San Michele (Calvisano). The broadcast schedule will be announced closer to the time.

Japan vs Italy Past Results:

• September 14, 2024 (L) 24-8 Piacenza
• October 13, 2023 (L) 28-15 Stellenbosch (WXV2)
• September 30, 2023 (W) 24-25 Parma
• October 23, 2022 (L) 21-8 Auckland (RWC)
• November 16, 2019 (D) 17-17 L’Aquila
• August 22, 2017 (L) 22-0 Belfast (RWC)
• May 22, 2002 (L) 30-3 Barcelona (RWC)

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