Brave Blossoms to Face France in Paris on Autumn Tour
The Japan Rugby Football Union has today announced that the Brave Blossoms will play France in Paris on November 9 as part of the Lipovitan D Tour 2024. Taking place at Stade de France, the home of French Rugby, the fixture adds another huge test match to an already packed year of tough internationals for the Japan Men’s National Team.
The match against France will be the 14th meeting between the two sides, with Japan having yet to taste victory against a French team currently ranked fourth in the world. Back in 2017, they came agonizingly close to recording their first win while on tour in Nanterre. Playing with fresh confidence and belief following their historic win over South Africa at RWC2015, Japan put in a huge performance on the day, but it wasn’t to be their day and the Brave Blossoms had to settle for a 23-23 draw.
Commenting on the announcement, Brave Blossoms Head Coach, Eddie Jones said:
“Today’s announcement adds yet another huge match to a calendar already packed with fixtures against some of world’s best teams. To play France in Paris will be a formidable challenge, but we want to test ourselves consistently against sides of this calibre, in hostile away-environments, to grow into the team we want to be.”
In addition to the Paris match, Japan will face the All Blacks in Yokohama on October 26 and then go on to play England at Twickenham on the weekend of November 23/24. It will be their second test against the Red Roses in 2024, with Japan hosting England in Tokyo on June 22 in their first test match of the season. The Brave Blossoms will also host Georgia and Italy in July, while the Japan XV will host the Māori All Blacks in two non-test match fixtures in late June and early July.
Further details on the Paris match, including kick off time, ticketing and broadcast information will be announced in due course.
Japan vs France Past Results
20 November 2022 (L) 35-17 Toulouse
9 July 2022 (L) 15-20 Tokyo
2 July 2022 (L) 23-42 Aichi
26 November 2017 (D) 23-23 Nanterre
10 September 2011 (L) 21-47 North Harbour (RWC 2011)
18 October 2003 (L) 29-51 Townsville (RWC 2003)
26 October 1985 (L) 52-0 Beaujoir
19 October 1985 (L) 50-0 Dax
7 October 1984 (L) 12-40 Tokyo
30 September 1984 (L) 0-52 Osaka
19 October 1980 (L) 23-3 Toulouse
23 September 1978 (L) 16-55 Tokyo
27 October 1973 (L) 18-30 Bordeaux
Japan Rugby 2024 Match Schedule
Saturday 22 June: Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2024 Japan vs England /National Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday 29 June: Japan XV vs Māori All Blacks* /Chichibunomiya Rugby Ground, Tokyo
Saturday 6 July: Japan XV vs Māori All Blacks* /Toyota Stadium, Toyota City
Saturday 13 July: Japan vs Georgia /Yurtek Stadium, Sendai
Sunday 21 July: Japan vs Italy /Sapporo Dome, Sapporo
Saturday 26 October: Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2024 Japan vs All Blacks /Nissan Stadium, Yokohama
Saturday, 9 November: France vs Japan /Stade de France, Paris
Weekend 23/24 November: England vs Japan /Twickenham Stadium, London
*Non-test Matches
