The Australians Are Coming – Several Aussie Teams have Announced Japan Tours Late in 2026

The Queensland Reds, Stockman Rugby, and the NSW Junior Rugby Union U15 Boys and U16 Girls Development XVs from Australia have all announced tours to Japan late in 2026.

Stockman Rugby – Year of the Dark Horse 2026 Japan Tour (October 2026)

Stockman Rugby have confirmed the players and staff selected for the ‘2026 Dark Horse Tour’ of Japan, which they said is “a wonderful blend of experience and potential and the selected staff are of an incredibly high calibre.” The announced squad will gather in Sydney in early October before travelling to Japan to face high-level opposition.

The Stockmen are scheduled to play the following fixtures in Japan:

• vs Doshisha University – Wednesday, October 14 2026 – Doshisha University Rugby Ground, Kyoto
• vs Maruwa MOMOTARO’S Narita – Saturday, October 17, 2026 – Tokyo Uni Kashiwa Fusion Field
• vs Kurita Water Gush Akishima – Friday, October 23, 2026 – Kurita Water Gush Akishima Ground
• vs Kawagoe Sayama SECOM Rugguts – Friday, October 23, 2026 – Kurita Water Gush Akishima Ground

The tour heads to Japan “Due to international travel uncertainty and an increasing cost of living, the slated tour to Europe has been postponed.”

The Stockmen Rugby’ Director of Rugby and Head Coach Ben Mowen Said: “Being a part of a program that unites the spirit of the bush through rugby and its traditions is truly rewarding.

As a former assistant coach of Japan’s Women’s Rugby Team, I have a deep affection for the culture and people of Japan, and I am looking forward to introducing the squad to the culture and people. As a group, we all look forward to assembling in October for what will be a history-making tour.“

The club hosted the Japan U23s earlier this year as part of their Coffs Coast Festival of Rugby tour matches (which was recognised as the 2026 Community Event of the Year). The Australian Country team played fixtures against Japan U23’s and Fiji U20s.

Stockman Rugby was also named the official charity recipient of the 50/50 raffle for the Wallabies’ Test against Japan at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday 15 August.

Queensland Reds Set To Face Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights (November 2026)

The Queensland Reds will continue their tradition of facing the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in their respective pre-seasons, with matches scheduled to take place at Ota City Sports Park Stadium (November 7) and Kumagaya Stadium (November 14).

The annual match exchange started in 2022, and the Australians have new Head Coach Vern Cotter and his assistants Zane Hilton, Peter Hewat and Craig McGrath.

The Reds will then fly to Italy for matches against an Italy XV (November 20) and Benetton Rugby (November 27) as they prepare for the 2027 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season.

The Head Coach, who replaced current Wallaby Head Coach Less Kiss, said, “The key shift will be getting more physical and creating that word ‘edge’. You’ve got to have fun too, so you have to make sure you enjoy the contest and embrace the difficulty of it.  The tour gives me time to get comfortable with this group of players and to get to know a great coaching staff.”

NSW Juniors Boys & Girls Japan Tour (December 2026)

As part of the NSW Juniors development strategy, they are sending their U15 Boys and U16 Girls Development Teams on tour to Japan in December 2026.

U15 Boys Head Coach is Jack Canning, alongside assistant coaches Jack Bowditch and Ian Bond, managed by Ben Kooyman.

The U16 Girls Head Coach is Brit Merlo, with Assistant Coach Buffy Hutton. The NSW U16 Girls have already had a tour to the USA this year. The Kashiwa Girls Rugby Festival is hosted by The Rugby School, Japan and is open to high school level teams. Only one spot was available to be the first foreign team to participate.

The tour will see the teams play these rugby festivals in Japan:

• Kashiwa Girls Rugby Festival – December 2026
• Australia-Japan Rugby Festival – Yokohama Country & Athletic Club – December 2026

Special Mention – Chiefs (NZ) Head to Minato Rugby Festival to Play Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath (November 2026)

Not an Australian team, but the Chiefs from New Zealand have also announced they will be heading to play the Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath on 14th November in Japan at the inaugural Minato Rugby Festival 2026 at the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo.

Asian Rugby News 2026

• JRLO 2026-2027 Season Will Kick Off on December 12.
• JRLO Global Footprint Shows In National Team Selections.
• Asian International Rugby Tournaments 2026.
• The Best Social 2026 Rugby Tournaments In Asia.