The JRFU confirmed that their women’s XV team, the Sakura Fifteen, will play Spain in two test matches in July 2023 as they prepare for the WXV2 in South Africa.
Updated July 13th 2023.
The Japanese women won the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship by beating Kazakhstan in the final in Almaty and qualified for WXV2 as a result. However, with only one international test under their belts since RWC 2021, they need more matches to compete later this year.
The two test matches against Las Leonas, the Spanish Women’s National Team, take place on the 8th and 15th July 2023 with match venues, kick-off times and other details to be announced. (Editors Note- we had published on Twitter on June 20th that the tour matches had been leaked prior to the announcement.)
The Sakura Fifteen have played Spain only once before at the 2002 Rugby World Cup in Spain with Las Leonas winning 62-0. JRFU said, “Japan will be looking at this tour as the perfect opportunity to redress the balance and record their first win over their hosts.” The two teams are currently ranked 11th and 12th by World Rugby with Japan slightly ahead.
Sakura Fifteen 2023 ARWC Champions
Interestingly, Spain plays their WXV2/3 qualification match on July 22, 2023, against Italy – so the Japanese and Spanish could face off again in WXV2 later this year if the Spanish beat Italy.
Simon Middleton Joins JRFU as High-Performance Advisor to the Sakura Fifteen
Among the number of high-profile coach signings by the JRFU, former England Women’s 7s & 15s head coach Simon Middleton has been appointed High-Performance Advisor to the Sakura Fifteen.
Middleton said of the appointment “It is a great honour for me to join the Japan Women’s National Team and I am very much looking forward to working with Head Coach Leslie, the staff and the players. Sakura Fifteen had a strong performance at last year’s World Cup. I am very honoured to be involved in this program to help Sakura Fifteen continue to close the gap with the top teams in preparation for the WXV in October”.
Japan Sakura Fifteen Squad – Spain Tour 2023
You can read more about the JRFU Women’s XV squad selected to tour Spain for the two-match series in July 023 here.
We will update the information as more is released for the matches.
Image Credit: JRFU
Japan Sakura Fifteen vs Spain – Match #1 July 9 2023
Match #1 World Rugby Rankings Permutations – Japan vs Spain 9th July 2023
- Spain must beat Japan by more than 15 points to become the higher-ranked of the two nations and replace them in 11th place.
- Las Leonas will fall to a new low of 13th if beaten by Japan.
- Japan cannot improve on 11th place even with a win.
Japan are yet to score a point against Spain in their two previous meetings, the last of which was at the RWC 2002, and this match in Spain will be the first time the two sides meet outside of a Rugby World Cup.
Japan Sakura Fifteen XV Squad vs Spain (Las Leonas) 2023 Match#1
More details on the Japanese squad for the first match can be found here.
Image Credit: JRFU
Spain (Las Leonas) XV Squad vs Japan 2023 Match#1
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- Image Credit: España Rugby
Japan Sakura Fifteen vs Spain – Match #2 July 15 2023
Match #2 World Rugby Rankings Permutations – Japan vs Spain 15th July 2023
Following Sakura Fifteens’ win in the first match 44-12;
- Spain must beat Japan by more than 15 points to become the higher-ranked of the two.
- Las Leonas will fall one place to 13th if they do lose to Japan.
- Sakura Fifteen cant improve their ranking, even if they win.
Japan Sakura Fifteen XV Squad vs Spain (Las Leonas) 2023 Match#1
More details on the Japanese squad for the 2nd match can be found here.
Image Credit: JRFU
Japan Sakura Fifteen vs Spain (Las Leonas) 2023 Tour
- Match 1 – (Originally scheduled as July 8) – Sunday, July 9th 2023 @Estadio Las Terrazas, Alcobendas KO 20:00 (Japan won 44-12)
- Match 2 – July 15th 2023 @Estadio Pedro Escartín KO 20:00
World Rugby Rankings
- Japan #11
- Spain #12
WXV2 2023 – Japan Women
WXV2 takes place in Cape Town, South Africa across the weekends of 14, 21 and 28 October 2023 with Scotland, Japan, Samoa, and South Africa confirmed.
Two more teams will be made known:
- Italy will have a play-off against Spain to determine the final European representatives in WXV 2 and WXV 3 on 22 July in Piacenza, Italy.
- One of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA.
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