Sakura Fifteen to Face Ireland in Galway
Japan Head Coach Toshizumi Kitagawa has named his Sakura Fifteen side to take on Ireland tomorrow, Sunday, September 27, in their second match of the 2026 WXV Global Series at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Kicking off at 12:45 local time (20:45 JST), the match is the first of two consecutive tests against Ireland, with the sides set to meet again next Saturday, October 3 at Virgin Media Park in Cork.
Captain Moe Tsukui will lead the Sakura Fifteen in a significant personal milestone, earning her 50th Test cap for Japan. Still only 26 years old, Tsukui has become a central figure in the Sakura Fifteen and will again start at halfback as Japan look to bounce back from last weekend’s 55-21 defeat to Italy in Pordenone.
Head Coach Kitagawa has made two changes to the starting side that faced Italy. Moe Nagaoka moves from the reserves to start at hooker, joining Hinata Komaki and Wako Kitano in the front row. The remainder of the starting forward pack is unchanged, with Masami Kawamura and Yuna Sato in the second row and Nami Asari, Sakurako Korai and Jennifer Nduka forming the back row. Both Kawamura and Asari crossed for tries against Italy last weekend.
In the backs, Tsukui again partners Sawa Harada in the halves, while Mana Furuta continues at inside centre. Outside her, Uta Kataoka earns her first Test start at outside centre after making her Sakura Fifteen debut from the bench against Italy last weekend.
Komachi Imakugi and Sora Nishimura continue on the wings, with Maiko Nishi again starting at fullback.
There are three new players in the matchday 23, with experienced front-rower Nijiho Nagata, lock Mio Nishimura and back Minori Yamamoto coming onto the reserves bench.
Nami Yoshida and Juka Fuji provide the remaining front-row cover, while Otoka Yoshimura joins Mio Nishimura among the reserve forwards. Anan Seo, Yamamoto and Mele Yua Havili Kagawa complete the matchday squad.
Commenting ahead of the match, Japan Head Coach Toshizumi Kitagawa said:
“During the week, we’ve been focusing on improving our basic skills while also looking at how we want to play our style of game against Ireland. The mood among the squad is great. There is a real determination to use these two matches to show our potential and to continue the growth of the team.”
Following their opening WXV Global Series defeat to Italy, the Sakura Fifteen will be looking to take another step forward as they continue their European tour in their first season under the guidance of Head Coach Kitagawa.
The match will be broadcast live and available for catch-up on J Sports On-Demand from 20:30 JST.
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 | 22 |
| 2 | Moe NAGAOKA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Mitsubishi Jisho Property Management Co., Ltd. | 163 | 67 | 1999/6/7 | 8 |
| 3 | Wako KITANO | MIE PEARLS | Sumitomo Wiring Systems | 166 | 95 | 1999/9/8 | 27 |
| 4 | Masami KAWAMURA | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | NTT FACILITIES, INC. | 173 | 75 | 1999/7/13 | 27 |
| 5 | Yuna SATO | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Sankyu Inc. | 170 | 80 | 1998/9/11 | 31 |
| 6 | Nami ASARI | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | Hosei Univ. | 171 | 62 | 2008/2/1 | 2 |
| 7 | Sakurako KORAI | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Sankyu Inc. | 166 | 67 | 2003/4/9 | 26 |
| 8 | Jennifer NDUKA | Hokkaido Barbarians Diana | Medical System Network | 168 | 75 | 2000/10/18 | 21 |
| 9 | Moe TSUKUI (C) | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | LIBEST Corp. | 153 | 54 | 2000/3/28 | 49 |
| 10 | Sawa HARADA | Japan Univ. of Economics | Japan Univ. of Economics | 165 | 63 | 2005/3/12 | 4 |
| 11 | Komachi IMAKUGI | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | OKINAYA Co.,Ltd. | 158 | 58 | 2002/1/6 | 36 |
| 12 | Mana FURUTA | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | NTT Facilities Inc. | 167 | 69 | 1997/11/16 | 43 |
| 13 | Uta KATAOKA | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | Dic Solution Engineering Inc. | 166 | 66 | 2004/4/23 | 1 |
| 14 | Sora NISHIMURA | MIE PEARLS | Choko Co.，Ltd. | 167 | 67 | 2000/9/29 | 28 |
| 15 | Maiko NISHI | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | Graduate School Tsukuba Univ. | 163 | 63 | 2004/1/27 | 2 |
| 16 | Nijiho NAGATA | MIE PEARLS | SEIBUNSHA Co., Ltd. | 162 | 80 | 2000/12/6 | 32 |
| 17 | Nami YOSHIDA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Human Life care Yokohama | 165 | 76 | 1999/4/13 | 6 |
| 18 | Juka FUJI | YOKOHAMA TKM | TMG Head Office, Yokohama Branch | 171 | 85 | 2001/1/22 | 4 |
| 19 | Otoka YOSHIMURA | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | Saitamaken Shinkin Bank. | 174 | 83 | 2001/5/15 | 35 |
| 20 | Mio NISHIMURA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Totsuka Kyoritsu Medical Satellite | 168 | 85 | 2002/11/29 | 9 |
| 21 | Anan SEO | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | OSP HOLDINGS CO.,LTD. | 155 | 59 | 2001/7/16 | 5 |
| 22 | Minori YAMAMOTO | YOKOHAMA TKM | Medical Corporation Yokohama Mirai Healthcare System | 168 | 68 | 1996/12/9 | 43 |
| 23 | Mele Yua HAVILI KAGAWA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Yokohama Mirai Healthcare System | 171 | 74 | 2001/9/29 | 10 |
(c) Captain
Sakura Fifteen 2026 Match Schedule
Friday 4 September
Japan vs Fiji
12-15 (L)
JAPAN BASE Fukuoka
Saturday 19 September
Italy vs Japan
55-21 (L)
WXV Global Series
Pordenone, Italy
Sunday 27 September
Ireland vs Japan
WXV Global Series
Galway, Ireland
Saturday 3 October
Ireland vs Japan
Cork, Ireland
Saturday 24 October
Japan vs Wales
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026 / WXV Global Series
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday 31 October
Japan vs Wales
WXV Global Series
Kumagaya Sports and Culture Park Rugby Stadium, Saitama