JAPAN XV Set to Take on Australia A in Osaka
The JRFU have announced the JAPAN XV side to take on Australia A this Saturday, October 18 at YODOKO Sakura Stadium in Osaka in their Asahi Super Dry CHALLENGE MATCH 2025. With a 13:00 afternoon kick off, the non-capped fixture takes place one week ahead of the Brave Blossoms’ massive test match against the Wallabies at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Saturday, October 25.
Tickets for both matches are still available via the JRFU’s English-language ticketing website at: https://quick.pia.jp/japan-rugby_en/
While Australia A has opted to field an experienced side, with nine Wallabies spread across their matchday 23, Japan will take the opportunity to bring through a raft of potential next-generation Brave Blossoms talent. With the Wallabies match coming one week later, followed by four, back-to-back tests against South Africa, Ireland, Wales and Georgia away in Europe, this JAPAN XV fixture offers a massive opportunity for emerging players to step up and claim their spot in the autumn tour squad.
Captained by Akito Okui, the exciting 24-year-old backrower from Tokyo Verblitz, the JAPAN XV will be looking to impose their style of fast paced, attacking rugby upon an experienced Australia A side. With the visitors also competing for higher national team honours, there will be no lack of motivation across both teams in what promises to be a highly entertaining game of fast, attacking rugby.
Commenting on the team selection, Brave Blossom’s Assistant Coach, and Acting Head Coach for the Australia A fixture, Neal Hatley said:
“We’ve announced what we think is the strongest side for this game. It’s a great mix of players that toured with the PNC, as well as some young men who have been desperate for an opportunity and who we think need to be rewarded. Then we’ve also got some guys returning to the national team setup, with players like Yoshitaka Yazaki and Siosaia Fifita.”
Commenting on the selection of number seven Akito Okui as Captain, Hatley added:
“Aki has forced his way into the squad by how well he’s been training. He’s been fantastic for us. He is part of our leadership group, so he’s not just a good number seven, he’s also a great team man who leads from the front. It was an easy selection in terms of the captaincy and we’re really happy with the contribution that he’s made. Not just this week for the JAPAN XV, but for the entire team as part of the PNC squad. He’s been a huge influence for the group.”
The match will be streamed live from 12:30 JST via J Sports 2 and available via catch-up on J Sports On-Demand.
JAPAN XV Team List:
| No | Name | Club Team | Graduate | Height cm | Weight kg | DOB |
| 1 | Sho FURUHATA | SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS | Daito Bunka Univ. | 185 | 118 | 1996/12/10 |
| 2 | Shodai HIRAO | TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH | Kwansei Gakuin Univ. | 174 | 103 | 2002/10/11 |
| 3 | Sanshiro KIHARA | TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH | Senshu Univ. | 181 | 108 | 2003/1/20 |
| 4 | David VAN ZEELAND | Kubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY | Takushoku Univ. | 196 | 116 | 2000/2/11 |
| 5 | Shu YAMAMOTO | RICOH BlackRams Tokyo | Kindai Univ. | 190 | 96 | 1999/6/1 |
| 6 | Tyler PAUL | Kubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY | Nelson Mandela Univ. | 195 | 111 | 1995/1/20 |
| 7 | Akito OKUI (C) | TOYOTA VERBLITZ | Teikyo Univ. | 178 | 105 | 2001/9/17 |
| 8 | Amanaki SAUMAKI | YOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES | Tupou College | 189 | 107 | 1997/3/8 |
| 9 | Shuntaro KITAMURA | SHIZUOKA BlueRevs | Ritsumeikan Univ. | 168 | 77 | 2002/3/28 |
| 10 | Ichigo NAKAKUSU | RICOH BlackRams Tokyo | Keio Univ. | 174 | 84 | 2000/6/1 |
| 11 | Halatoa VAILEA | Kubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY | Nippon Sport Science Univ. | 185 | 104 | 1999/2/14 |
| 12 | Siosaia FIFITA | TOYOTA VERBLITZ | Tenri Univ. | 187 | 105 | 1998/12/20 |
| 13 | Yuya HIROSE | Kubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY | Meiji Univ. | 182 | 94 | 2001/4/7 |
| 14 | Kazuma UEDA | KOBELCO KOBE STEELERS | Kindai Univ. | 177 | 87 | 2002/12/4 |
| 15 | Yoshitaka YAZAKI | Waseda Univ. | Toin Gakuen HS. | 180 | 86 | 2004/5/12 |
| 16 | Shoma SAGAWA | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars | Nihon Univ. | 180 | 103 | 2002/1/20 |
| 17 | Yuichiro TANIGUCHI | RICOH BlackRams Tokyo | Tenri Univ. | 180 | 109 | 1998/6/4 |
| 18 | Yuta KOKAJI | TOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS TOKYO | Tenri Univ. | 176 | 109 | 1998/7/8 |
| 19 | Shohei ITO | TOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS TOKYO | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 190 | 115 | 1997/5/1 |
| 20 | Rikuto NAKAYA | Doshisha Univ. | Osaka Toin HS. | 180 | 102 | 2005/4/15 |
| 21 | Asahi DOEI | YOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES | Kyoto Sangyo Univ. | 170 | 73 | 2003/1/9 |
| 22 | Shinya KOMURA | TOYOTA VERBLITZ | Teikyo Univ. | 180 | 92 | 2002/5/28 |
| 23 | Kotaro ITO | RICOH BlackRams Tokyo | Meiji Univ. | 177 | 86 | 2001/11/15 |
(C) Captain
Japan National Team Upcoming Match Schedule
Saturday 18 OctoberJAPAN XV vs Australia A (Uncapped)
Asahi Super Dry CHALLENGE MATCH 2025
YODOKO Sakura Stadium, Osaka
Friday 24 October
Hong Kong China vs JAPAN XV (Uncapped)
Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong
Saturday 25 October
Japan vs Australia
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025
National Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday 1 November
Japan vs South Africa
Lipovitan D Tour 2025
London
Saturday 8 November
Ireland vs Japan
Autumn Nations Series
Dublin
Saturday 15 November
Wales vs Japan
Autumn Nations Series
Cardiff
Saturday 22 November
Georgia vs Japan
Tbilisi