Japan XV To Compete at World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024

World Rugby have announced that this year’s Pacific Challenge 2024 will take place at Apia Park, in the Samoan capital between April 10 to 20. Contested between Manuma Samoa, Fiji Warriors, Tonga A and Japan XV, the tournament will be played in a round-robin format, with all teams playing three matches each. The team finishing with the most competition points across the tournament will be named Pacific Challenge 2024 Champions.

The tournament features a unique setup in which the competing squads consist of 28 players. Of this number, 23 members must be 23 years of age or younger on the first day of competition (April 10, 2024), while the remaining five squad members can be any age over 18. While typically comprising a mix of capped Brave Blossoms, and players knocking on the door of national team selection, the Japan XV for this competition will be made up predominantly of players from Japan’s U20 side. The team will also be led by Japan’s U20 National Team Coach, Naoya Okubo.

This year’s competition is set to be electric with Samoa, Tonga and Japan all looking to topple the mighty Fiji Warriors who are the reigning Pacific Challenge Champions after having won their tenth championship title at last year’s competition. Japan will be looking to once again recapture the form that saw them win the 2020 title, the last competition held before 2023 due to the Covid pandemic. Hosts Manuma Samoa will be hoping to perform well in front of their home fans while Tonga A will no doubt bring their trademark size and physicality.

Naoya Okubo, Japan U20 Team Head Coach and Head Coach of the Pacific Challenge 2024 Japan XV squad commented:

“The Pacific Challenge 2024 is a really important tournament for us as we build our playing style ahead of the World Rugby U20 Trophy in Scotland this July. Of the 28-member squad we will bring to Samoa, 23 will be drawn from the current 40-member U20 squad, while the remaining five will be a mix of high-potential, senior players. Our players will face a physical challenge they have never experienced before, playing away, in tropical conditions with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, against the size and physicality of strong Pacific Island teams. We will be ready to fight as One Team, with the pride of the Japanese Sakura on our chests.”

The 28 members of the Japan XV squad will be announced at the end of March, while further details on broadcast schedules to be announced as soon as they are confirmed.

World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024 Match Schedule

ROUND 1 WED 10 APRIL, 2024	#1 | Tonga A v Fiji Warriors 13:15 (09:15 JST)	#2 | Manuma Samoa v Japan XV 16:00 (12:00 JST)
ROUND 2 MON 15 APRIL, 2024	#3 | Fiji Warriors v Japan XV 13:15 (09:15 JST)	#4 | Manuma Samoa v Tonga A 16:00 (12:00 JST)
ROUND 3 SAT 20 APRIL, 2024	#5 Japan XV v Tonga A 12:15pm (08:15 JST)	#6| Manuma Samoa v Fiji Warriors 15:00 (11:00 JST)

All kick-off times local Apia time (JST in brackets)