Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix Sign Partnership With Western Force

The bridges between Japanese rugby clubs and those in NZ and Australia have been expanded with Japanese club Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix signing an agreement with Super Rugby W side Western Force. The agreement will allow for player exchanges and trial games.

This follows the news of cross-border matches planned in 2024 between JRLO and Super Rugby Pacific NZ sides.

Two Japanese players from Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix, Natsuki Kashiwagi and Yuna Sato spent time on loan with the Western Force from March to May 2023 and the Australian club confirmed that Natsuki Kashiwagi would be returning for the 2024 season.

There will be further opportunities for Force players to be loaned to Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix in 2024 and 2025 said an official press release.

A number of the Japanese club’s players represent the Sakura XV and Sevens, with three being involved in the recent SVNS legs. The club were also the Japanese Sevens and 15s champions in 2022.

Phoenix General Manager and former Japan international Yohei Shinomiya said, “Another long-held dream has come true. I believe that in order for women’s rugby to become a more attractive sport, it was necessary not only to play within Japan but also to play overseas.”

Photo Credit: Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix & Western Force

The Perth side also added via a statement that the partnership has “a view to sharing knowledge, plus the exchange of management, coaches, training staff and media staff, co-creation branding and academy planning.”

Western Force Head of Female High-Performance Claudia Bell added: “The commitment to pre-season trial games in Perth and Tokyo in 2024 also exposes our playing group to an international opposition team that plays a different style of rugby and provides our players with an opportunity to learn how to travel as a professional sports team and handle foreign on-field conditions.

The addition of international quality talent through the player exchange helps both parties and we’re thrilled to have Natsuki return to play for the Force in 2024.”

Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix – Australia Tour 2024

Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix will travel to Perth from February 19th – March 4 2024 and play the Western Force twice, and NSW Waratahs once in Sydney on the tour.

Shinomiya said, “During the Australia tour, we would like to convey the charm of Japanese culture and the Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix through women’s rugby. I want to help many players join Phoenix and spread their wings around the world, just like I once played overseas.”

• Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix vs Western Force – 23/2/2024 HBF Park
• Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix vs Western Force – 27/2-2024 UWA Sports Park
• Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix vs NSW Waratahs – 2/3/2024 Concord Oval

The Phoenix will also host the Force in Tokyo for games in October 2024 with details to be confirmed.

Japanese Rugby News 2023-2024

• Japan Sakura 7s Claim 10th At HSBC Cape Town SVNS 2023 – Confident Of Improvements.
• Global Youth Sevens 2023 – Japan’s U18 Girls SDS Confirmed.
• NTT JRLO Season 2023-2024 – Who Is Involved?
• Cross-Border Rugby 2024 – JRLO & Super Rugby NZ Teams Confirmed.