WXV Global Series 2026 Preview – Ireland vs Japan

The Sakura XV face another tough WXV Global Series 2026 Test this weekend in Ireland, especially with the Irish higher-ranked (5th to Japan in 12th), and the hosts coming off the back of a surprise loss to the USA last weekend. The sides play the only Sunday 27th September fixture at Dexcom Stadium in Galway.

Photo Credit – JRFU

The North Americans overturned a 19-point deficit to claim a 40-36 win at Tallaght Stadium, so the Irish will be looking for a strong response this weekend against a Japanese team which has not fired in recent games.

Ireland themselves have only won half of their last ten Tests, but worryingly for Japan, the Irish defeated Italy 57-20 in the Women’s Six Nations this year. Ireland have finished in the top half of the table in all but three of the last 18 editions of the championship. They have been most potent in the first half of matches, so Japan need to target a big opening forty minutes.

Photo Credit – JRFU – RWC 2025 Japan vs Ireland.

Ireland Head Coach Scott Bemand is a former Red Roses Head Coach, but has been with Ireland since 2023 and extended his contract until the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029, and has a 57.1% win record in charge of Ireland.

He said mid-week, “We’ve got the next two weeks where we go against Japan, who have a certain style of rugby, and then we’re going to go and face some big humans again in South Africa.

So, it will be an ideal opportunity in terms of where we are in terms of this World Cup cycle, to add those layers to the game. That will give more layers to our game, more attacking prowess. We just join up, a bit of tidying up with some technical bits of how we arrest that momentum, and then I think we’ll be really well placed.”

There are six changes to the team that lost to the USA. Connacht’s Béibhinn Parsons, Anna McGann and Aoibheann Reilly join the backline, Eilís Cahill earns her first Ireland start in the front row, Neve Jones starts at hooker, and Brittany Hogan is selected in the back row.

He has selected uncapped Beth Buttimer among the reserves – the 21-year-old has been in great form for Munster during the recent Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.

Aoife Wafer was ruled out of selection this week after suffering a minor injury in training.

Japan’s loss to Italy was their biggest yet, and they come into the game knowing they pushed Ireland despite the scoreline of 14-42 when they last met at the pool stage of RWC 2025. These feel like very different times despite that match being 12 months ago.

Historically, the two teams have played 8 times, and Ireland has won 7 of those. If Japan do fall to a defeat, they are in danger of going on an extended losing run, with Ireland up again next week before they play Wales twice.

The discipline was poor last week in Italy as they were under so much pressure and the lineout faltered too – only achieving three out of seven throws (57%).

The JRFU also confirmed that prop Miharu Machida has returned to Japan due to an injury.

A major milestone will be celebrated as Japan’s captain, scrum-half Moe Tsukui, who made her Women’s Rugby World Cup debut at Ireland 2017 when she was 17 and was included in the team of the tournament, will earn her 50th cap this weekend!

Coming into the starting XV at hooker is Moe Nagaoka, and Uta Kataoka at outside centre for just her second cap. Other changes compared to the squad that faced Italy among the reserves is experienced prop Nijiho Nagata (who was part of the Blues in NZ who won Super Rugby Aupiki and the Trans-Tasman Women’s Super Rugby Champions final), as well as Mio Nishimura and Minori Yamamoto.

The two teams will play again in Cork on 3 October (not part of the WXV Global Series).

Match Permutations

• Ireland can not improve their ranking if they beat Japan.
• Japan could equal their all-time high of 10th if they cause an upset by winning, and South Africa lose to Italy.
• A draw would see Japan rise to 11th if Wales also lose to USA.

Sakura XV Women’s Squad vs Ireland – WXV Global Series 2026

More of the matchday squad will be announced by the JRFU.

Ireland Squad vs Japan Sakura XV – WXV Global Series 2026

Starting XV (club/caps):

15. Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(30)
14. Béibhinn Parsons (Railway Union RFC/Connacht)(36)
13. Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC/Connacht)(18)
12. Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(38)
11. Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC/Leinster)(7)
10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(36)
9. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(20)

1. Niamh O’Dowd (Gloucester-Hartpury)(24)
2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury)(47)
3. Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(5)
4. Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs)(43)
5. Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(26)
6. Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks)(44)
7. Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(13)(captain)
8. Jemima Adams Verling (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)(1)

Replacements:

16. Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
17. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)(22)
18. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(58)
19. Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(1)
20. Grace Moore (Munster)(28)
21. Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(26)
22. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(34)
23. Niamh Gallagher (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby)(2)

*denotes uncapped player

Match Officials

• Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)
• Assistant Referee 1: George Selwood (RFU)
• Assistant Referee 2: Doriane Constanty (FFR)
• TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
• FPRO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

How To Watch WXV Global Series 2026

Depending on your region, matches should be available on RugbyPassTV.

WXV 2026 Rugby News

• Sakura XV Lose Heavily to Italy In WXV Global Series 2026 Opener.
• WXV Global Series 2026 Preview – Italy vs Japan.
• Japan Sakura Fifteen vs Fijiana 2026 Preview.
• JRFU Appoints Toshizumi Kitagawa As the New Sakura XV Head Coach Before WXV 2026