Japan U23 Wrap Up Aussie Tour with Win Over Randwick
Japan U23 have wrapped up their four-match tour of Australia with a solid 21-38 win over Sydney club side Randwick at Coogee Oval. The victory sees the young men from Japan return home with three wins from four matches, a tremendous result considering the quality of their opposition and the intensity of playing four away fixtures in just 10 days.
Having won their matches against Fiji U20, 39-48 and the Australian Stockmen, 31-43, Japan U23 eventually fell to Australia U20, 38-24. Their performances in their first three matches suggested they were well and truly up for their return to Coogee Oval where they had fallen a year earlier to the Galloping Greens, 36-31.
In what was a fast-paced and highly entertaining match, Japan were too strong for a Randwick side comprising a mix of Colts (U20) and grade-level players. While the first half saw Japan take a narrow seven-point lead, with the halftime score at 7-14, the visitors piled on the pressure in the second stanza to pull away for a solid 17-point win.
Commenting after the match, Japan Head Coach Eddie Jones said:
“What I liked today, compared to last year when physically we couldn’t stay in the game, is that this year in the second half, we finished stronger than they did. The team played with a lot of toughness and skill. But what impressed me the most was their toughness, particularly in defence. At halftime my message to the team was to keep on attacking the same way, play shorter passes and to keep coming up on them in defence.
“Overall, I’m really happy with the progress of the players on the tour and obviously looking at individuals, we wanted to identify two or three players good enough to play for Japan, and I think we found that. Otsuka, Hatta, Chuka, Nakamori, Ito and Watanabe are all players who have a chance.”
After what was a gruelling, yet thoroughly enjoyable tour, the Japan U23 team now head home for a well-earned break before rejoining their respective university and club sides. A number of players will also be called up into the Japan U20 squad for the upcoming 2026 Junior World Championships in Georgia in late July where they will face New Zealand, Italy and Scotland in Pool B.
The last few weeks have seen Japan’s age group sides put in some highly encouraging performances in both England and Australia. In March, the National High School Team defeated England U19 for the first time ever and now the U23 side returns home with three tour victories alongside a credible performance in their loss to Australia U20. These results paint a positive picture on the pipeline of talent coming up through the national pathways.
Japan U23 2026 Australian Tour
Saturday 4 April
Fiji U20 vs Japan U23
39-48 (W)
Grafton
Wednesday 8 April
Stockman, Australia vs Japan U23
31-43 (W)
Kempsey
Saturday 11 April
Australia U20 vs Japan U23
38-24 (L)
Coffs Harbour
Tuesday 14 April
Randwick vs Japan U23
21-38 (W)
Randwick Rugby Club, Sydney