Sakura Fifteen to Face New Zealand’s Black Ferns at Eden Park
The Japan Rugby Football Union is delighted to announce that the Sakura Fifteen will play the Black Ferns on Saturday, September 24 at Eden Park in Auckland, in the first ever test match between the sides. Kicking off at 13:30 JST (16:30 NZST), the match will be played ahead of the second Bledisloe Cup test between the All Blacks and Wallabies, at the same venue.
With Rugby World Cup 2021 (played in 2022) kicking off in New Zealand on October 8, the test match against the Black Ferns, at home in New Zealand, will offer invaluable experience for the Sakura Fifteen as they make their final preparations for the sport’s flagship event. Eden Park will host the Rugby World Cup Semi-Finals and Bronze Final, as well as the Final, on Saturday, November 12. The Sakura Fifteen are set to kick off their World Cup campaign against Canada on Sunday, October 9 in Whangarei.
Sakura Fifteen Head Coach Lesley McKenzie commented:
“This test match is a tremendous opportunity for us, and the invitation from New Zealand is testament to the progress the team has made since we first gathered in 2019. It will be a big moment for the Black Ferns as they prepare to kick off their home Rugby World Cup. They have been showing increasingly commanding performances and all eyes will be on them at Eden Park. For the Sakura Fifteen, this is our opportunity to go deeper in our learning and progression as a team as we prepare for our first pool match in Whangarei. We’re looking forward to this opportunity to test ourselves against the world’s best, and we hope Japan will get behind us in this warm-up for Rugby World Cup.”
Black Ferns Director of Rugby Wayne Smith commented:
“Adding another Test to our schedule is important – the more we can train and play together, the better. Eden Park is a fantastic venue and getting the chance to play there before Rugby World Cup is fantastic.”
“We saw Japan beat Australia earlier this year so know they are a team that is building so we are really grateful to have some strong opposition before we start World Cup. Playing our first Test against them, at Eden Park, will be a great occasion,”
The match will be streamed in live Japan via WOWOW On Demand.