Japan XV to host Australia A in October

The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) and Rugby Australia today announced that a fixture between Australia A and a Japan XV side will take place at Yodoko Sakura Stadium in Osaka on Saturday October 18.

Japan and Australia's respective second-string sides will clash one week before the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025 game between the Brave Blossoms and the Wallabies on Saturday, October 25 at Tokyo’s National Stadium.

Yodoko Sakura Stadium is home to division two outfit NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka as well as J-League side Cerezo Osaka. 

Picture courtesy of JRFU

A Japan XV team beat Australia A for the first time in their last meeting in 2022 at the same venue. Bordeaux star Tevita Tatafu and Kubota Spears captain Faulua Makisi were among the try scorers as the hosts prevailed against Dave Rennie’s team 52-48.

Japan’s busy, post-Pacific Nations Cup autumn schedule will see them head overseas following their two home games against Australia.

Eddie Jones’ men will face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday 8 November before travelling to Cardiff to play Wales on Saturday 15 November.

Japan will conclude their season away to Georgia, at a venue that is still to be decided, on Saturday 22 November.

Rugby Australia’s Director of High Performance of Rugby, Peter Horne said: “We’re pleased to be working closely with the JRFU in creating opportunities for our players to play against high-quality international opposition.

"The Australia A program continues to be a great development tool for our country’s next best players, with a number of those who toured the United Kingdom last year part of recent wider Wallabies training hubs, and in some cases part of the current squad preparing to play Fiji.

"Not only is this a great opportunity for the players, but matches like this also provide valuable professional development for the wider staff in the Australian Rugby High Performance system."