Sakura Fifteen to Face Italy Ahead of RWC
The JRFU have announced that the Sakura Fifteen will once again travel to Italy for a one-off test match ahead of a major international tournament. The Japan National Women’s Team will take on Le Azzurre on Saturday, August 9 in Calvisano, 100 kilometres east of Milan. The fixture will be Japan’s third consecutive warm-up match against Italy in as many years, following similar one-off tests ahead of the WXV2 tournament in both 2023 and 2024.
With a history of seven test matches played between the two sides, Italy holds current bragging rights with five wins and one draw. Japan recorded their first and only victory over Le Azzurre in 2023, defeating their hosts 24–25 in the northern Italian city of Parma. The Sakura Fifteen’s adulation was however short-lived, with Italy defeating Japan 28–15 less than two weeks later during their WXV2 match in Stellenbosch.
Coming off the back of their emphatic win over the USA in Los Angeles in April, and having comfortably defeated Kazakhstan and Hong Kong China during the recent Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship, Japan are building in both experience and confidence. Ahead of their early August departure to Italy, they will host their RWC Pool C rivals Spain for a two-test series in July.
Commenting on the announcement, Sakura Fifteen Head Coach Lesley McKenzie said:
“This is a great game for us as we make our final preparations for the World Cup. We are familiar with Italy from previous years, but they will be making their own bid for great performances in England, so we expect them to be both a very tough task and to present some unfamiliar pictures for us.
“Italy are under a new coach who’s had this year’s Six Nations to work his way into the role, and they’ve shown some really pressurising rugby in their last few games. In addition to that, they’ve got an experienced, skilful squad with players who’ll be excited to be peaking right around this time. It should be exactly what we need, and I’m appreciative that we’ve developed this relationship with Italy.”
Following their match against Le Azzurre, Japan will depart for England to begin their final RWC preparations. Drawn in Pool C alongside Ireland, New Zealand and Spain, the Sakura Fifteen will be looking to deliver their best ever Rugby World Cup performance. How they compete against Spain and Italy in the leadup to England 2025 will give a good indication of where they stand ahead of what is expected to be the biggest Women’s World Cup yet.
Japan vs Italy Past Results:
September 14, 2024 (L) 24-8 Piacenza
October 13, 2023 (L) 28-15 Stellenbosch (WXV2)
September 30, 2023 (W) 24-25 Parma
October 23, 2022 (L) 21-8 Auckland (RWC)
November 16, 2019 (D) 17-17 L’Aquila
August 22, 2017 (L) 22-0 Belfast (RWC)
May 22, 2002 (L) 30-3 Barcelona (RWC)
