Sakura Fifteen 2025 Training Squad Announced
The Japan Rugby Football Union is delighted to reveal the 36-member Sakura Fifteen Training Squad for 2025. Announced today by Head Coach, Lesley McKenzie, the squad will assemble on March 2 at JAPAN BASE in Fukuoka for their first training camp of the year.
With 2025 set to be a hugely important year for the women’s game, these 36 players will get the first opportunity to impress the Sakura Fifteen’s coaching team. McKenzie and her assistant coaches will be looking intently at who will make the plane to England for RWC 2025 in August.
Commenting on the squad selection, Sakura Fifteen Head Coach, Lesley McKenzie said:
“I’m so pleased to announce the Sakura Fifteen training squad of 36 players that will begin preparations for the 2025 World Cup at JAPAN BASE in Fukuoka this March.
“Firstly, I want to thank the clubs and universities. You have been tireless, innovative, and incredibly supportive of your players, our program, and the growth of women’s fifteens here in Japan. Thank you for your investment, your commitment, and your time spent in ensuring the game is healthy, fit, better than ever, and growing in Japan.
“To supporters and fans, we have seen an increasingly competitive national club schedule that will provide a fantastic final at Chichibunomiya on February 2. The quality of the club game reflects the momentum that women’s fifteens has acquired. The games are fast, entertaining, skilled and abrasive. It’s great to watch, isn’t it? Thank you for coming to the games. We are all looking forward to Mie Pearls taking on Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix in the final.
“During my time coaching the national side I have seen a significant all-round development in the technical and tactical aspects of the domestic game. It’s been exciting to see the investment in fifteens by our Japanese clubs, who have played a massive part in creating difficult decisions around national team selections.
“There will be players deeply disappointed not to see their names here, including those who have been working hard this season, and those currently working hard in longer term rehab. As a result—and due to the nature of our game—I do expect to see players move in and out of this training group, however, this is a strong core from which we will prepare to challenge results in our pool matches in England this summer.”
2025 Sakura Fifteen Training Squad
| Name | Club Team | Company / School | cm | kg | DOB |
| Megumi ABE | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | RDC Co.,Ltd. | 147 | 55 | 1998/4/28 |
| Nao ANDO | BRAVE LOUVE | Valuence Holdings Inc. | 168 | 64 | 2001/7/11 |
| Komachi IMAKUGI | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | OKINAYA Co.,Ltd. | 158 | 60 | 2002/1/6 |
| Ayasa OTSUKA | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | Inose Logistics Service Co., Ltd. | 163 | 65 | 1999/5/5 |
| Mele Yua Havili KAGAWA | Nanairo PRISM FUKUOKA | CellSource Co., Ltd. | 171 | 75 | 2001/9/29 |
| Sachiko KATO | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | SECOM CO., LTD. | 164 | 90 | 2000/2/19 |
| Masami KAWAMURA | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | Samko Gakuen Tokyo Resort & Sports vocational school | 173 | 75 | 1999/7/13 |
| Wako KITANO | MIE PEARLS | Sumitomo Wiring Systems | 167 | 92 | 1999/9/8 |
| Asuka KUGE | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | Goto Hygiene Consultant | 164 | 78 | 1994/9/22 |
| Sakurako KORAI | Nippon Sport Science Univ. | Nippon Sport Science Univ. | 168 | 73 | 2003/4/9 |
| Ayumu KOKAJI | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | OSP Holdings co., ltd. | 160 | 80 | 2000/11/24 |
| Kanako KOBAYASHI | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars/ Exeter Chiefs | Shonan Kamakura General Hospital | 164 | 68 | 1998/11/13 |
| Hinata KOMAKI | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Sankyu Inc. | 165 | 78 | 2001/5/9 |
| Seina SAITO | MIE PEARLS | Eiwatech Co.,Ltd. | 164 | 72 | 1992/5/30 |
| Ayano SAKURAI | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | NTT Facilities Inc. | 167 | 73 | 1996/4/15 |
| Yuka SADAKA | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | Kansai Automation Co., LTD. | 167 | 100 | 1994/11/2 |
| Yuna SATO | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Sankyu Inc. | 170 | 76 | 1998/9/11 |
| Anan SEO | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | OSP HOLDINGS CO., LTD. | 155 | 59 | 2001/7/16 |
| Kotomi TANIGUCHI | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | NKS Corp | 163 | 75 | 1995/4/10 |
| Nana TAREKADO | Japan Univ.of Economics | Japan Univ.of Economics | 167 | 74 | 2004/7/2 |
| Moe TSUKUI | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | LIBEST Corp. | 153 | 53 | 2000/3/28 |
| Iroha NAGATA | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | Kanto Foods Co.,Ltd. | 168 | 70 | 1998/12/21 |
| Nijiho NAGATA | MIE PEARLS | SEIBUNSHA Co., Ltd. | 162 | 80 | 2000/12/6 |
| Saya NAKAMURA | MIE PEARLS | Suzuran Clinic | 178 | 78 | 2002/3/15 |
| Arisa NISHI | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Rikkyo Univ. | 164 | 64 | 2004/5/29 |
| Sora NISHIMURA | MIE PEARLS | Choko Co.，Ltd. | 167 | 68 | 2000/9/29 |
| Haruka HIROTSU | Nanairo PRISM FUKUOKA | Kyushu Fuundo Sales Co., Ltd. | 169 | 71 | 2000/10/29 |
| Mana FURUTA | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | NTT Facilities Inc. | 167 | 70 | 1997/11/16 |
| Kyoko HOSOKAWA | MIE PEARLS | Sumitomo Wiring Systems,Ltd. | 164 | 73 | 1999/7/8 |
| Miharu MACHIDA | Japan Univ..of Economics | Japan Univ..of Economics | 172 | 90 | 2004/5/26 |
| Rinka MATSUDA | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Toppan Inc. | 171 | 74 | 2001/12/5 |
| Misaki MATSUMURA | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Waseda Univ. | 169 | 72 | 2005/3/6 |
| Manami MINE | Nippon Sport Science Univ. | Nippon Sport Science Univ. | 163 | 77 | 2003/9/11 |
| Minori YAMAMOTO | YOKOHAMA TKM | － | 169 | 70 | 1996/12/9 |
| Otoka YOSHIMURA | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | Saitamaken Shinkin Bank. | 174 | 83 | 2001/5/15 |
| Jennifer NDUKA | Hokkaido Barbarians Diana | Medical System Network | 168 | 80 | 2000/10/18 |
2025 Sakura Fifteen Upcoming Schedule
| Schedule | Activity | Location | Remarks |
| March 2 – 15 | Training Camp | JAPAN BASE – Fukuoka | |
| March 24 – April 6 | Training Camp | JAPAN BASE – Fukuoka | |
| April 12 – 27 | North America Tour | Details TBC | |
| May 12 – June 1 | Training Camp | JAPAN BASE – Fukuoka | |
| June 6 – 28 | Training Camp | Sugadaira – Nagano | |
| July 8 – 27 | Domestic Final Training Camp | TBC | Domestic Test Match TBC |
| August 2 – 12 | Italy Tour | Italy | |
| August 13 – September 20 | RWC2025 | England | ・August 24 – Ireland ・August 31 – New Zealand ・September 7 – Spain |