Sakura Fifteen Side Named to Face Hong Kong China
The JRFU have announced the Sakura Fifteen team to face Hong Kong China in the third and final match of the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship. The match will take place at JAPAN BASE in Kyushu on Sunday, 25 May, kicking off at 13:00 JST. It follows Japan’s dominant 90–0 win over Kazakhstan in Round One.
The coaching team has opted for a largely unchanged line-up to face a Hong Kong China side coming off their 29–12 victory against Kazakhstan in Round Two. Sakurako Korai will captain the side for the second consecutive match, starting on the blindside flank as part of an unchanged forward pack.
Just two new players have been named in the matchday 23, with Natsuki Ouchida starting on the left wing and Kasumi Murase included among the replacements. Both are set to earn their first test caps as Japan continues to build squad depth ahead of a demanding international season culminating in the Rugby World Cup in England.
The match will be shown live and via catch-up on J-Sports On-Demand on Sunday, May 25 from 12:45 JST, with a recording of the match following on J Sports 1 on Tuesday, May 27 at 19:30 JST.
Sakura Fifteen Team List:
| Name | Team | Company | Height(cm) | Weight(kg) | DOB | Cap | |
| 1 | Hinata KOMAKI | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Sankyu Inc. | 165 | 78 | 2001/5/9 | 18 |
| 2 | Ayumu KOKAJI | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | OSP Holdings co., ltd. | 160 | 80 | 2000/2/19 | 9 |
| 3 | Miharu MACHIDA | Japan Univ..of Economics | Japan Univ..of Economics | 172 | 90 | 2004/5/26 | 2 |
| 4 | Saya NAKAMURA | MIE PEARLS | Suzuran Clinic | 178 | 70 | 2002/3/15 | 2 |
| 5 | Mio NISHIMURA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Totsuka Kyoritsu Dai-1 Hospital | 169 | 82 | 2002/11/29 | 6 |
| 6 | Sakurako KORAI (c) | Nippon Sport Science Univ. | Nippon Sport Science Univ. | 168 | 73 | 2003/4/9 | 19 |
| 7 | Kyoko HOSOKAWA | MIE PEARLS | Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. | 164 | 71 | 1999/7/8 | 15 |
| 8 | Sakura MIZUTANI | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Tokyo Athletic United | 166 | 65 | 2003/12/13 | 1 |
| 9 | Anan SEO | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | OSP Holdings co., ltd. | 155 | 59 | 2001/7/16 | 2 |
| 10 | Ayasa OTSUKA | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | One Logistics Co., Ltd. | 163 | 65 | 1999/5/5 | 32 |
| 11 | Natsuki OUCHIDA | MIE PEARLS | Kuki Sangyo Co., Ltd. | 167 | 68 | 2002/1/9 | 0 |
| 12 | Kanako KOBAYASHI | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | Shonan Kamakura General Hospital | 164 | 68 | 1998/11/13 | 18 |
| 13 | Nao ANDO | BRAVE LOUVE | Valuence Holdings Inc. | 169 | 64 | 2001/7/17 | 11 |
| 14 | Mele Yua Havili KAGAWA | Nanairo PRISM FUKUOKA | CellSource Co., Ltd. | 171 | 75 | 2001/9/29 | 3 |
| 15 | Sora NISHIMURA | MIE PEARLS | Choko Co.，Ltd. | 167 | 68 | 2000/9/29 | 19 |
| 16 | Moe NAGAOKA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Mitsubishi Jisho Property Management Co., Ltd. | 163 | 67 | 1999/6/7 | 3 |
| 17 | Nami YOSHIDA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Human Life care Yokohama | 165 | 73 | 1999/4/13 | 1 |
| 18 | Yuka SADAKA | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | Kansai Automation Co., LTD. | 167 | 94 | 1994/11/2 | 21 |
| 19 | Miho MATSUNAGA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Yokohama Mirai Nursing School | 173 | 72 | 1992/11/27 | 1 |
| 20 | Kasumi MURASE | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Tokyo Athletic United | 166 | 74 | 2003/3/8 | 0 |
| 21 | Mio YAMANAKA | MIE PEARLS | TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION. | 156 | 56 | 1995/10/27 | 3 |
| 22 | Nana TAREKADO | Japan Univ.of Economics | Japan Univ..of Economics | 167 | 74 | 2004/7/27 | 2 |
| 23 | Arisa NISHI | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix/Rikkyo Univ. | Rikkyo Univ. | 165 | 65 | 2004/5/29 | 1 |
(c) Captain
2025 Asia Rugby Women’s Championship Fixtures
| Round One | THU 15 MAY 13:00 KO | Japan v Kazakhstan | 90-0 |
| Round Two | TUE 20 MAY 13:00 KO | Hong Kong China v Kazakhstan | 29-12 |
| Round Three | SUN 25 MAY 13:00 KO | Japan v Hong Kong China | – |