Japanese Sakura XV Players Playing Overseas In 2024

The JRFU have confirmed a number of national team Sakura XV players are plying their trade in overseas leagues in 2024, in NZ, Australia, and England.

Updated 21st February 2024.

Over recent seasons, Ayaka Suzuki (Wasps) and Sachiko Kato (Exeter Chiefs) played Premiership Women’s Rugby in England, while Makoto Lavemai and Mana Furuta played in Canberra for the Brumbies in Australia’s Super W competition, confirmed the JRFU.

Akane Kagawa, JRFU Director of Women’s Rugby said, “Having key players experience club rugby overseas is hugely important for the growth of the women’s game here in Japan. Not only do they bring their playing experience back to their clubs and to the national team, they also grow in terms of their leadership ability, their communication skills and their international rugby network.

Japanese women can make a positive and important contribution to our global game, not just as players, but also as administrators, referees, and leaders. The opportunity to experience rugby life outside of Japan is a really important part of developing our women to play a greater role in the world of rugby.”

Japanese Sakura XV Players –  Playing Overseas In 2024 – Australia, NZ and England

In 2024, Sakura Fifteen test internationals, who have a cumulative 96 test caps between them, are playing their rugby internationally said the JRFU.

(We actually think it’s more than that as they omitted players in the Super W for the Western Force. After the JRFU post, additional announcements were also made taking it to well over 100 caps).

Natsuki Kashiwagi & Hinata Komaki – Western Force

In late 2023 it was already confirmed that a Japanese player from Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix – Natsuki Kashiwagi – would be returning to the Western Force for the 2024 season with Natsuki and Yuna Sato spending time at the club from March to May 2023 for the Super W Season. Since then it has been confirmed that Hinata Komaki also joined the side for the 2024 season.

Image Credit – Western Force

The cooperation between the Japanese and Australian sides promises to see further opportunities for “Force players to be loaned to Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix in 2024 and 2025”.

Seina Saito – Chiefs Manawa

Seina Saito, Japan’s most capped player (hooker and back row), is at the Chiefs Manawa in Hamilton, New Zealand for the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season. The Chiefs Head coach is Crystal Kaua who coached Saito’s Japanese club side, the Mie PEARLS from 2018 to 2022. Saito, who has 40 test caps, also previously spent six months in Christchurch.

At the start of 2024, the Chiefs Rugby Club signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chiefs Manawa and Mie Womens Rugby Club PEARLS to assist with developing women’s rugby in New Zealand and Japan.

Photo Credit: JRFU – Seina Saito will play for the Chiefs Manawa in 2024

Saito said via the JRFU website, “There are two reasons why I want to play in New Zealand. Firstly, I want to open a new door for Japanese players as nobody has played in this competition before. Hopefully, it inspires others to follow and helps to build up the players who will lead Japanese rugby in the future. Secondly, I’m really motivated to reconnect with Crystal, who coached me at the PEARLS. I can learn so much more from her, I want to learn new skills and improve myself.”

She will count among her teammates Black Ferns internationals.

Nijiho Nagata – The Blues

It was announced on February 21st, 2024 that Japanese player Nagata would join the NZ team as cover for Esther Faiaoga-Tilo who was ruled out due to injury.

The 13-cap Sakura XV Hooker joins from the PEARLS club in Japan.

She also played in Auckland’s title winning FPC season.

England’s Premiership – Minori Yamamoto, Kie Tamai, Kanako Kobayashi

In England’s Premiership Women’s Rugby, Japanese flyhalf, Minori Yamamoto (28 Sakura XV test caps) joined the Sale Sharks following two seasons with Worcester Warriors. She was the first Japanese player to represent Worcester Warriors.

Kie Tamai is a Japanese utility forward with RWC 2021 experience and has 16 caps who joined the Ealing Trailfinders in London at the start of 2024. She is another export from the successful Mie PEARLS Japanese club side.

She said at the time of her move “I’m really excited to move across to the UK and joining a new team like Trailfinders. I can’t wait to experience a different culture both on and off the field, as I look to learn the English game and bring it into my own rugby, while also bringing some of my energy from Sakura to my new teammates!”

Meanwhile, the Exeter Chiefs have seen the return of centre Kanako Kobayashi this season who has 12 test caps to her name. She played for them in the 2021/22 season but missed the entire 2022/23 season due to injury. In her first season with Exeter,  scored Kobayashi four tries in 16 appearances and won the Allianz Cup with her team.

Sakura XV 2024 Internatioals

The Sakura XV will compete with Hong Kong China Rugby and Kazakhstan in the Asia Rugby Championship 2024 (details still TBC), and the top two will head to the WXV 2 and 3 respectively later this year – with details for both competitions also still be released.

The WXV will form a key part of the RWC 2025 qualification process and the Japanese will be the strongest contenders to qualify from Asia for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 due to be held in England.

Asian Women’s Rugby News 2024

• Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix Sign Partnership With Western Force.
• Is The New Aligned Rugby Calendar Good For The Sport?
• Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
• Opening And Closing Venues – Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025.