Japan to Face New Zealand, Ireland and Spain in RWC2025 Pool C
Japan are set to face New Zealand, Ireland and Spain in Pool C at next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England following yesterday’s pool draw in London. Scheduled to run from 22 August to 27 September 2025, the tournament promises to be the biggest ever women’s Rugby World Cup as participation in, and support of the women’s game continues to grow around the world.
Following the announcement of the makeup of the four pools, the tournament fixtures will be revealed on Tuesday, 22 October via the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 official website.
Commenting on the pool draw announcement, President of the Japan Rugby Football Union, Masato Tsuchida said:
“The Sakura Fifteen will face New Zealand, the current and six-time World Champions, along with European powerhouses Ireland and Spain in Pool C. It will be a huge challenge, but we are honoured to be playing against such great opposition on the world’s highest stage.
“RWC2025 will be tenth Women’s World Cup and Japan will be competing for the sixth time. At the previous tournament in New Zealand, we lost all three pool matches and failed to make the last eight. However, since then the number of annual test matches has increased significantly, and the team has made steady progress. Rugby World Cup in England, the home of rugby, is sure to be the most exciting ever. We wish the tournament every success and the JRFU will continue to work hard for the ongoing development of the women’s game in Japan, Asia and around the world.”
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Pools
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D |
| England | Canada | New Zealand | France |
| Australia | Scotland | Ireland | Italy |
| USA | Wales | Japan | South Africa |
| Samoa | Fiji | Spain | Brazil |
Japan Women’s National Team Head Coach Lesley McKenzie added:
“It’s tremendously exciting to finally know our pool opponents for next year’s World Cup and we look forward to an atmosphere of huge excitement around the game. English fans love their Red Roses, but they also love teams who turn up to play, and I think the support from the crowds will be at another level than what our girls have experienced. Over 60,000 tickets have already been sold for the finals and based on how the game is supported in England, it will be a brilliant experience for our players and management.
“Pool C will be an exciting pool for our fans to follow, with real contrasts in all three team’s styles, but speed of play at the forefront of each. We have faced all three in recent years so there is a level of familiarity. Ireland frustrated New Zealand in this year’s WXV 1, and Spain’s Leonas are a team with roots in Six Nations rugby, lots of Sevens DNA, and are progressing rapidly under Juan Gonzalez.
“This is going to really motivate our players, a lot of whom have just returned from a WXV 2 tournament in Cape Town where they competed hard in every game. While the results didn’t flatter us, they also didn’t reflect the massive improvement in our rugby, or that of our competitors. The Sakura Fifteen are aiming to be a tough team to beat, but also a team that showcases the exciting kicking and passing game that people are beginning to know us for. I’m hugely excited for the 2025 Pool stages, and I hope Japanese rugby fans will join the Sakura Fifteen for a great journey to the birthplace of rugby.”
Japan Women’s National Team Captain, Iroha Nagata added:
“The team is very much looking forward to the matches against all three teams and I think it will be a chance to show people how much the team has grown since the last World Cup. Every game will be a challenge, with no easy games in the draw. We will continue to work hard to show the spirit of Sakura Fifteen rugby and to get the results we want. We look forward to your continued support.”