TOKYO – The Japan Rugby Football Union on Monday announced the men’s national team’s home schedule through August, with Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms set to host tests against Italy, France and Australia.
Japan will face Italy on July 4 at a Tokyo venue to be determined, then battle France at the MUFG Stadium in the capital on July 18, with both matches part of the inaugural edition of the Nations Championship.
File photo shows Japan forward Michael Leitch (C) and scrumhalf Shinobu Fujiwara (L) in action during a rugby test match against Australia in Tokyo on Oct. 25, 2025. (Kyodo)
They take on the Wallabies at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka Prefecture on Aug. 8.
A Japan XV will play a non-test match against the Maori All Blacks at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Aichi Prefecture on June 27.
The JRFU named a 55-man training squad to prepare for the slate of matches, including Toulouse scrumhalf Naoto Saito, 37-year-old backrow stalwart Michael Leitch, veteran prop Keita Inagaki and emerging fullback Yoshitaka Yazaki.
Meiji University back Ryunosuke Ito, who helped his school win the national university championship, is one of 12 uncapped players in the squad.
AloJapan.com