Japan Men’s 2026 Domestic Match Schedule Announced
The Japan Rugby Football Union is delighted to announce the 2026 domestic match schedule for the Japan XV and Brave Blossoms, including two home tests as part of the inaugural season of the new Nations Championship.
The action kicks off on Saturday, June 27 in Nagoya with the Japan XV hosting the Māori All Blacks in the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026. With the Māori All Blacks being now regular visitors to Japan, this non-capped fixture will be the fourth meeting between the two sides in the last three years and their seventh overall. While the Māori All Blacks have tasted victory across six of these fixtures, the Japan XV enjoyed a famous 26-14 victory in Toyota City back in 2024.
The Brave Blossoms will then face Italy in Tokyo on Saturday, July 4 in Round One of the Nations Championship 2026, with the match venue still to be announced. The fixture will be the 11th played between the two sides, with Japan having defeated Gli Azuri on just two previous occasions, in 2014 and 2018. Improving year-on-year in the Six Nations and having recently inflicted their second straight defeat over Australia, Italy will offer a huge first test for Eddie Jones’ men.
Japan will then play their third-round match of the Nations Championship 2026 when they host France at the National Stadium in central Tokyo on Saturday, July 18. It will be Les Bleus’ first visit to Japan since their two-match tour back in 2022 and the 15th meeting between the two sides since their first ever test match in Bordeaux back in 1973.
Finally, Japan will welcome Australia for a one-off test match on Saturday, August 8 at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashi-Osaka. Having pushed the two-time World Champions all the way last October in Tokyo, only to come up three points short, Japan will be looking forward to once again taking on the men from Down Under.
Commenting on the 2026 domestic fixture announcement, JRFU President, Masato Tsuchida said:
“On behalf of the JRFU I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our stakeholders for their continued support of the Brave Blossoms. This year will be crucial for the team, with every match carrying significant weight as we approach Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
“We will continue our utmost preparations for these matches with the aim of bringing moments of triumph together with our loyal supporters in packed stadiums across Japan. We humbly request your continued and passionate support in anticipation for our team’s progress as they prepare take on the world’s best.”
Further details including match kick-off times, ticketing and broadcast information will be announced in due course.
Japan XV & Brave Blossoms Domestic Match Schedule 2025
Saturday 27 June
Japan XV vs Māori All Blacks
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026
Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya
Saturday 4 July
Japan vs Italy
Nations Championship 2026
Tokyo – Venue TBC
Saturday 18 July
Japan vs France
Nations Championship 2026 National Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday 8 August
Japan vs Australia
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashi-Osaka
Historical Match Results
Japan XV vs Māori All Blacks Past Results:
6 matches, 1 win, 5 losses
28 June 2025: 20-53 (L) Tokyo 6 July 2024: 26-14 (W) Toyota City
29 June 2024: 36-10 (L) Tokyo
8 November 2014: 18-20 (L) Tokyo
1 November 2014: 21-61 (L) Hyogo
28 June 2008: 65-22 (L) Napier, New Zealand)
Japan vs Italy Past Results:
10 matches, 2 win, 8 losses
July 21, 2024 (L) 14-42 Hokkaido
August 26, 2023 (L) 42-21 Treviso
June 16, 2018 (L) 22-25 Kobe
June 9, 2018 (W) 34-17 Oita
June 21, 2014 (W) 26-23 Tokyo
August 13, 2011 (L) 31-24 Cesena
August 18, 2007 (L) 36-12 Aosta
June 11, 2006 (L) 52-6 Tokyo
July 4, 2004 (L) 32-19 Tokyo
October 21, 1976 (L) 25-3 Padova
Japan vs France Past Results:
14 matches, 0 win, 13 losses, 1 draw
November 9, 2024 (L) 52-12 Paris
November 20, 2022 (L) 35-17 Toulouse
July 9, 2022 (L) 15-20 Tokyo
July 2, 2022 (L) 42-23 Toyota City
November 26, 2017 (D) 23-23 Nanterre
September 10, 2011 (L) 21-47 North Harbour (RWC2011)
October 18, 2003 (L) 29-51 Townsville (RWC2003)
October 26, 1985 (L) 0-52 Beaujoire
October 19, 1985 (L) 0-50 Dax
October 7, 1984 (L) 12-40 Tokyo
September 30, 1984 (L) 0-52 Osaka
October 19, 1980 (L) 3-23 Toulouse
September 23, 1978 (L) 16-55 Tokyo
October 27, 1973 (L) 18-30 Bordeaux
Japan vs Australia Past Results:
7 matches, 0 wins, 7 losses
25 October 2025: 15-19 (L) Tokyo
23 October 2021: 23-32 (L) Oita
4 November 2017: 30-63 (L) Yokohama
8 September 2007: 3-91 (L) Lyon, France (RWC)
3 June 1987: 42-23 (L) Sydney, Australia (RWC)
17 Aug 1975: 50-25 (L) Brisbane, Australia
2 August 1975: 37-7 (L) Sydney, Australia