Sakura Fifteen Named for Wales Rematch in Kumagaya
The Sakura Fifteen will take on Wales this Saturday, October 31, in the second of two consecutive test matches against their European opponents. Head Coach Toshizumi Kitagawa has named his side for the 16:00 JST clash at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, which forms part of the Taiyo Seimei JAPAN RUGBY CHALLENGE MATCH 2026 and WXV Global Series.
Japan will be looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s 0-17 defeat at Tokyo’s Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, where the two sides met as part of the JRFU’s historic centenary double header. Despite the result, the Sakura Fifteen produced a determined performance in difficult, wet conditions, enjoying long periods of possession and putting together several encouraging passages of attacking play.
While Japan showed ambition and resilience throughout the encounter, they struggled to convert possession and attacking opportunities into points. Wales meanwhile made the most of their size and physicality, particularly at scrum time, to gradually take control of the match. With the benefit of another week of preparation, Kitagawa’s side will be looking to build on the positives from Tokyo, while finding ways to better contain the Welsh forward pack and turn their attacking opportunities into points.
Kitagawa has retained much of his starting side from last weekend, while making several changes across the forward pack and backline. In the forwards, Hinata Komaki, Moe Nagaoka and Wako Kitano continue their combination in the front row, with Masami Kawamura and Yuna Sato again partnering in the second row. Nami Asari retains her place at blindside flanker, while Jennifer Nduka comes into the starting side at openside flanker. Savannah Bodman continues at number eight, having made her international debut in Tokyo last weekend.
Captain Moe Tsukui again leads the side from halfback, partnering young flyhalf Sawa Harada. Mele Yua Havili Kagawa comes into the starting line-up on the left wing, while Uta Kataoka and Sophie Akiko Langford continue their partnership in the midfield. Honoka Tsunokawa retains her position on the right wing, with Komachi Imakugi coming into the side at fullback.
On the bench, Asuka Kuge, Manami Mine and Juka Fuji provide front-row cover, with Mio Nishimura and Sakurako Korai completing the forward replacements. Anan Seo, Chihiro Ito and Sora Nishimura provide additional options across the backline.
Saturday’s return encounter offers the Sakura Fifteen an immediate opportunity to demonstrate their progress against a physically imposing Welsh side. Having shown their ability to compete and retain possession in Tokyo, Japan will be looking to deliver a more clinical attacking performance, while containing the visitors’ physical threat.
The match will be broadcast live across Japan on J SPORTS 1 from 15:45 JST and streamed live on J SPORTS On Demand from 15:45 JST.
Fans looking to catch the action live can pick up tickets via the JRFU’s English-language ticketing website at: https://quick.pia.jp/japan-rugby_en/.
Sakura Fifteen Team List:
| Name | Team | Company | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | DOB | Cap | |
| 1 | Hinata KOMAKI | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Sankyu Inc. | 166 | 75 | 2001/5/9 | 25 |
| 2 | Moe NAGAOKA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Mitsubishi Jisho Property Management Co., Ltd. | 163 | 67 | 1999/6/7 | 11 |
| 3 | Wako KITANO | MIE PEARLS | Sumitomo Wiring Systems | 166 | 95 | 1999/9/8 | 30 |
| 4 | Masami KAWAMURA | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | NTT FACILITIES, INC. | 173 | 75 | 1999/7/13 | 30 |
| 5 | Yuna SATO | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Sankyu Inc. | 170 | 80 | 1998/9/11 | 34 |
| 6 | Nami ASARI | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | Hosei Univ. | 171 | 62 | 2008/2/1 | 5 |
| 7 | Nduka JENNIFER | Hokkaido Barbarians Diana | Medical System Network | 168 | 75 | 2000/10/18 | 24 |
| 8 | Savannah BODMAN | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Tokyo Athletic United General Incorporated Association Tokyo Athletic United | 168 | 70 | 2002/2/16 | 1 |
| 9 | Moe TSUKUI (C) | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | LIBEST Corp. | 153 | 54 | 2000/3/28 | 52 |
| 10 | Sawa HARADA | Japan Univ. of Economics | Japan Univ. of Economics | 165 | 63 | 2005/3/12 | 7 |
| 11 | Mele Yua HAVILI KAGAWA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Medical Corporation Yokohama Mirai Healthcare System | 171 | 74 | 2001/9/29 | 12 |
| 12 | Uta KATAOKA | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | Dic Solution Engineering Inc. | 166 | 66 | 2004/4/23 | 4 |
| 13 | Sophie Akiko LANGFORD | YOKOHAMA TKM | Medical Corporation Yokohama Mirai Healthcare System | 169 | 75 | 2004/8/22 | 1 |
| 14 | Honoka TSUNOKAWA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Totsuka Kyoritsu Yukari no Sato | 164 | 63 | 2001/9/10 | 3 |
| 15 | Komachi IMAKUGI | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | OKINAYA Co.,Ltd. | 158 | 58 | 2002/1/6 | 38 |
| 16 | Asuka KUGE | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | Goto Hygiene Consultant | 164 | 77 | 1994/9/22 | 28 |
| 17 | Manami MINE | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Sankyu Inc. | 163 | 77 | 2003/9/11 | 15 |
| 18 | Juka FUJI | YOKOHAMA TKM | TMG Head Office, Yokohama Branch | 171 | 85 | 2001/1/22 | 7 |
| 19 | Mio NISHIMURA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Totsuka Kyoritsu Medical Satellite | 168 | 85 | 2002/11/29 | 11 |
| 20 | Sakurako KORAI | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Sankyu Inc. | 166 | 67 | 2003/4/9 | 29 |
| 21 | Anan SEO | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | OSP HOLDINGS CO.,LTD. | 155 | 59 | 2001/7/16 | 7 |
| 22 | Chihiro ITO | Waseda Univ. Rugby Football Club Women’s Team | Waseda Univ. | 164 | 66 | 2007/7/15 | 1 |
| 23 | Sora NISHIMURA | MIE PEARLS | Choko Co. Ltd. | 167 | 67 | 2000/9/29 | 30 |
(c) Captain