Brave Blossoms’ 2025 Autumn Tour to Europe Announced

The Japan Rugby Football Union is delighted to announce that three fixtures have been confirmed for the Brave Blossoms’ Lipovitan D Tour 2025 to Europe. Japan are set to take on Ireland, Wales and Georgia across three action packed weekends in November, with the Ireland and Wales matches held as part of the Autumn Nations Series.

The first match, on Saturday, November 8, will see the Brave Blossoms return to Aviva Stadium in Dublin for the first time in four years where they will face Ireland, the current number two ranked side in World Rugby’s international rankings. Kicking off at 12:40 local Dublin time, the match will be the 13th meeting between the two nations. With the men in green being notoriously difficult to beat at home, Japan will be no doubt looking to repeat their heroics in 2019 when they defeated Ireland for the first and only time in Shizuoka, at Rugby World Cup.

Following the Ireland match, Japan then hop across the Irish Sea to Cardiff, to face Wales the following weekend at Principality Stadium on Saturday, November 15. Kicking off at 17:40 local time in Cardiff, the match will be the third meeting between the two sides in 2025, following Wales’ two-match tour to Japan in July.

With Wales and Japan sitting alongside each other on World Rugby’s ranking table at 12 and 13 respectively, their three meetings in 2025 will be hugely important for both sides. Wales will be desperate to turn around a recent dip in form, while Eddie Jones will be looking to see his young Brave Blossoms side start winning test matches on the road.

The final match, to be held at a venue yet to be confirmed, will see Japan take on Georgia on Saturday, November 22. In what will be the eighth meeting between the two sides, Japan will be looking to avenge their two-point, 23-25 loss to Georgia in their last meeting, at home last year in Miyagi.

Commenting on the announcement, Brave Blossoms Head Coach, Eddie Jones said:
“We’re delighted to be able to finish the year with three great test matches. In terms of their work rate in attack, Ireland are the most consistent team in the world and their defence is world-class. Playing Wales in Cardiff is one of the great experiences in world rugby – nestled in the centre of city, the atmosphere is arguably the best in the world. Meanwhile Georgia is by far the most improved team in the world – historically strong forwards are now aided by increasingly adventurous and skilled backs. This will be a fitting way for the team to finish the year with what will be a tour of a lifetime.”

Brave Blossoms & Japan XV Match Schedule 2025*

*Additional fixtures may still be confirmed

Saturday 28 June
Japan XV vs Māori All Blacks (non-capped match)
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025
Chichibunomiya Rugby Ground, Tokyo

Saturday 5 July
Japan vs Wales
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025
Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu

Saturday 12 July
Japan vs Wales　
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025
Noevir Stadium, Kobe

Saturday 30 August
Japan vs Canada
Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (Pool B)
Yurtec Stadium, Sendai

Saturday 25 October
Japan vs Australia
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025
National Stadium, Tokyo

Lipovitan D Tour 2025

Saturday 8 November 12:40KO
Ireland vs Japan
Autumn Nations Series
Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Saturday 15 November 17:40KO
Wales vs Japan
Autumn Nations Series
Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Saturday 22 November
Georgia vs Japan
Venue TBC (in Georgia)

Historical Match Results: Japan vs Ireland, Wales & Georgia

Brave Blossoms v Ireland
12 matches, 1 win and 11 losses
6 Nov 2021: 60-5 (L) Dublin, Ireland
3 July 2021: 39-31 (L) Dublin, Ireland
28 September 2019: 19-12 (W) Shizuoka (RWC)
24 June 2017: 13-35 (L) Tokyo
17 June 2017: 22-50 (L) Shizuoka
19 Jun 2005: 18-47 (L) Tokyo
12 Jun 2005: 12-44 (L) Osaka
11 November 2000: 78-9 (L) Dublin, Ireland
31 May 1995: 28-50 (L) Bloemfontein, South Africa (RWC)
9 October 1991: 32-16 (L) Dublin, Ireland (RWC)
2 June 1985: 15-33 (L) Tokyo*
26 May 1985: 13-48 (L) Osaka*
*The two 1985 tour matches were uncapped for Ireland as they competed as the Ireland XV

Brave Blossoms v Wales
14 matches, 1 win and 13 losses
19 November 2016: 33-30 (L) Cardiff, Wales
15 June 2013: 23-8 (W) Tokyo
8 June 2013: 18-22 (L) Osaka
20 September 2007: 72-18 (L) Cardiff, Wales
26 November 2004: 98-0 (L) Cardiff, Wales
17 June 2001: 30-53 (L) Tokyo
10 June 2001: 10-64 (L) Osaka
9 October 1999: 64-15 (L) Cardiff, Wales (RWC)
27 May 1995: 10-57 (L) Bloemfontein, South Africa (RWC)
16 Oct 1993: 55-5 (L) Cardiff, Wales
22 Oct 1983: 29-24 (L) Cardiff, Wales
24 September 1975: 6-82 (L) Tokyo
21 September 1975: 12-56 (L) Osaka
6 October 1973: 62-14 (L) Cardiff, Wales

Brave Blossoms vs Georgia
7 games, 5 wins, 2 losses
13 July 2024: 23-25 (L) Miyagi
23 June 2018: 28-0 (W) Aichi
12 November 2016: 22-28 (W) Tbilisi, Georgia
5 September 2015: 13-10 (W) Gloucester, England
23 November 2014: 35-24 (L) Tbilisi, Georgia
17 November 2012: 22-25 (W) Tbilisi, Georgia
14 May 2006: 32-7 (W) Osaka