Month: August 2025

 (Written by Azul: August 14, 2025)

The Japan Women’s National Rugby Team’s test match was held on July 26, 2025, at Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium in Minato Ward, Tokyo, so I went to watch it.

This year, the 10th Women’s RWC will be held in England from August.

The Japan Women’s National Team, SAKURA 15, is currently ranked 11th in the world. In the preliminary pool, they are grouped with New Zealand (ranked 3rd in the world), Ireland (6th), and Spain (13th). Finishing in the top two of the preliminary pool will secure a spot in the knockout stage.

This match provided a valuable opportunity to face Spain’s Las Lonas, who are in the same preliminary pool as Japan in the RWC. There were 2 matches scheduled against the Spanish national team, and in the first test match held a week ago, the Japanese national team won with a score of 32-19. As both teams are ranked almost equally in the world rankings, a close match was expected in this second game as well. 

Now, let’s introduce the 2 teams competing in this match. 

First, let’s introduce the visiting team, the Spanish women’s national team, Las Leonas.

Currently ranked 13th in the world, the Spanish women’s national team has participated in the RWC 6 times in the past, with their highest ranking being 6th (in 1991). The Spanish women’s national team’s schedule for the RWC 2025 is as follows:

August 24: vs. New Zealand (ranked 3rd in the world) 

August 31: vs. Ireland (ranked 5th in the world)

September 7: vs. Japan National Team (World Ranking 11th)

Outlook for the Spanish National Team at the 2025 RWC:

In Pool C of the qualifiers, the New Zealand National Team stands out as the strongest, but the other 3 teams are closely matched in strength, so a fierce battle for the second spot to advance to the knockout stage is expected. The Spanish national team’s weakness lies in set plays, so how much they can improve in this area by the time RWC 2025 begins will be the key to advancing to the knockout stage. If they can secure the ball on equal terms, their backline’s finishing ability is on par with that of the powerhouses. 

The starting lineup for this day was as follows. 

SPAIN
No.	Name	height	weight	age	Spain Caps
1	Laura DELGADO	172cm	93kg	35	50
2	Marieta ROMAN	171cm	93kg	26	19
3	Sidorella BRACIC	164cm	83kg	32	24
4	Elena MARTINEZ	180cm	102kg	23	1
5	Louredes ARAMEDA	175cm	86kg	33	37
6	Ana PERARUTA	172cm	74kg	23	5
7	Nerea GARCIA	170cm	75kg	28	4
8	Alba CAPEL	164cm	80kg	21	26
9	Anne FERNANDEZ de Corres	157cm	61kg	27	31
10	Amalia ARGUDO	169cm	70kg	24	22
11	Claudia CANO	169cm	67kg	19	12
12	Zahia PEREZ	172cm	72kg	21	25
13	Claudia PENA	163cm	68kg	20	22
14	Tecla MASOKO	165cm	74kg	25	6
15	Lea DUCHER	168cm	68kg	23	6

A notable feature of the Spanish national team is the high number of under-25 backline players with caps. These players have a high level of experience in big games, so if the match comes down to a tactical battle, they are likely to showcase their strengths. 

＊＊ Player to watch ＊＊ 

Amalia ARGUDO. 169 cm, 70 kg, 24 years old. Position: SO. Spanish national team caps: 22. ARGUDO joined the world-renowned French rugby club Stade Toulousain at the age of 16. Despite facing intense competition in France and suffering from repeated shoulder injuries, she accumulated over 50 appearances for a top-tier club. She is also expected to be one of the most watched players in her position at the Rugby World Cup 2025. She possesses a wide range of line-breaking techniques, so she doesn’t simply pass the ball around. She breaks down the opposition through running plays and then builds attacks, so when the ball is supplied properly, she delivers stunning attacks. Keep an eye on this playmaker’s performance.

Next, an introduction to the Home Team, the Japanese Women’s Rugby National Team, SAKURA 15.

Currently, SAKURA 15 is ranked 11th in the world. This season, they defeated the USA National Team (ranked 10th in the world) in a test match on April 26 with a score of 39-33.

The schedule for the 2025 Rugby World Cup is as follows.

August 24: Ireland National Team (world ranking 5th) 

August 31: New Zealand National Team (world ranking 3rd) 

September 7: Spain National Team (world ranking 13th)

While the Spain National Team, which they will face on this day, aims to break through with individual skills, SAKURA 15 will build the game with organized teamwork. Since these 2 teams are scheduled to face each other directly in the 2025 World Cup, they will likely keep their offensive plays under wraps, but it is certain that both teams are aiming for victory. 

The starting lineup for this day was as follows. 

JAPAN
No.	Name	height	weight	age	Japan Caps
1	Manami MINE	163cm	76kg	21	1
2	Asuka KUGE	163cm	75kg	30	1
3	Kazuko KITANO	166cm	65kg	25	7
4	Yuna SATO	170cm	75kg	26	10
5	Otoka YOSHIMURA	173m	75kg	24	8
6	Masami KAWAMURA	172m	66kg	26	4
7	Iroha NAGATA	167cm	62kg	26	20
8	Seina SAITO	164m	68kg	33	35
9	Moe TSUKUI	152cm	53kg	25	22
10	Minori YAMAMOTO	168cm	63kg	28	24
11	Mele Yua Habiri KAGAWA	169cm	64kg	23	2
12	Haruka HIROTSU	169cm	50kg	24	7
13	Mana FURUTA	167cm	68kg	27	18
14	Misaki MATSUMURA	165cm	58kg	20	0
15	Rinka MATSUDA	170cm	74kg	23	9

Looking at the Japanese national team’s starting lineup, the lack of national team caps compared to the Spanish national team is noticeable. While the average age is the same, it will be interesting to see if this lack of national team experience will affect the match on this day.

** Player to watch **

Mele Yua Habiri Kagawa. 169 cm, 64 kg, 23 years old. Position: WTB, CTB, back row. Japan caps: 2. Half-Japanese, half-Tongan player. He emerged as a rising star before the tournament and was selected as a starter at WTB in the final test match. Originally a forward player, she stands out for her physical strength and has the ability to secure gains and tries when she gets the ball. It will be interesting to see if she can continue to score tries in this test match.

The attendance for this match was 5,244, setting a new record for a Japanese women’s national team match.

Now, let’s begin the first half. 

In the first match, the Spanish national team, Las Leonas, conceded several tries to Japan’s maul attacks near their own in-goal area. Las Leonas reflected on this and made adjustments to their maul defense near their own in-goal area for this match. 

Even when SAKURA 15 formed a good maul near the try line, they struggled to make progress.

7 minutes into the first half:

However, SAKURA 15 continued to dominate the ball in the opponent’s territory and kept up their attack. Here, SAKURA 15 attempted to advance again with a maul from a lineout on the left side near the opponent’s in-goal area, but Las Leonas stopped them. However, SAKURA 15 then moved the ball to the right and finally scored a try with WTB MATSUMURA.

However, this try was disallowed because the ball had left his hands just before grounding.

13 minutes into the first half: 

SAKURA 15 continued to attack deep in the opponent’s territory but remained unable to score, a frustrating situation that persisted. However, Las Leonas also committed seven fouls in this short period, resulting in two players being temporarily sent off. SAKURA 15 took advantage of this numerical superiority, moving the ball from the right to the left corner, and finally WTB KAGAWA scored a try in the left corner of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 5-0, with SAKURA 15 taking the lead.

28 minutes into the first half:

In this match, SAKURA 15 was stable in set plays, but the problem was the dense formation When SAKURA 15 was in the dense formation , the supporting players were noticeably slow, which slowed down the tempo of the continuous attacks.

However, in the battle for the center of the field, SAKURA 15 took the lead with its speed of play and few mistakes. SAKURA 15’s FL NAGATA functioned well as a link player, passing the ball to the backs, and when the ball reached WTB KAGAWA at the 10-meter line of the opponent’s territory, KAGAWA ran nearly 20 meters and scored her second try of the day in the left corner of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was missed, leaving the score at 10-0.

The first half ended with this score. Las Leonas had the advantage in contact situations, but handling errors prevented them from scoring. In the second half, Las Leonas could try to make a comeback and turn the game around?

Then, the second half began.

8 minutes into the second half:

Even in the second half, Las Leonas’ handling errors were noticeable. In the scrum, they were slow to release the ball and couldn’t establish a rhythm. Las Leonas secured the ball in a scrum deep in their own territory, and the scrum half attempted a box kick, but SAKURA 15’s flanker NAGATA charged in, stole the ball, and scored a try in the middle of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 17-0.

11 minutes into the second half:

At this point, Las Leonas’ passing improved, and their continuous attacks began to function. Las Leonas advanced deep into the left side of the opponent’s territory, where SAKURA 15 committed a foul. Las Leonas advanced their territory with a penalty kick, approached the opponent’s try line, and gained a chance for a lineout.

Las Leonas secured the ball, formed a maul, and advanced rapidly. Even when the maul collapsed, FL Garcia scored a try in the left center of the opponent’s in-goal area with a vertical attack by the forwards.

The conversion kick after the try was unsuccessful, but the score became 17-5. Las Leonas scored their first points of the match.

17 minutes into the second half:

After the try, SAKURA 15 entered the opponent’s territory and gradually advanced, approaching the try line. As in the first half, Las Leonas’ defense in front of the in-goal area was solid, but they committed a foul in front of the goalposts. SAKURA 15 opted for a penalty goal, which SO YAMAMOTO converted, bringing the score to 20-5.

20 minutes into the second half:

At this point, both teams changed 4-5 substitution players. SAKURA 15 entered the opponent’s territory from the restart kickoff, and the substitute players were dynamic, breaking through the line one after another and approaching the opponent’s in-goal area. SAKURA 15 moved the ball to the right, and WTB MATSUMURA scored a try in the right corner of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was unsuccessful, but the score became 25-5.

25 minutes into the second half:

Las Leonas entered the opponent’s territory and, from around the halfway line, the backs  players used long passes and running plays to break through the line and gain ground to just before the opponent’s try line. They then formed a scrum in front of the try line, and finally, substitute hooker JOU scored a try in the right center of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 25-12. 

As demonstrated in this attack, Las Leonas have fast-moving backs players and powerful forwards who can score tries without wasting time when they get close to the try line. This attack showed that they will be formidable opponents in the RWC.

30 minutes into the second half:

From the restart kickoff, SAKURA 15 entered the opponent’s territory, and the substitute players took the lead in breaking down the opponent’s defense and advancing.

Then, after the opponent committed a foul, they chose a penalty kick, secured the ball from the lineout, formed a maul, and advanced quickly, with substitute hooker KOKAJI scoring a try in the right center of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was unsuccessful, but the score became 30-12.

35 minutes into the second half:

Towards the end of the match, Las Leonas increased the speed of their back line attack. They were able to connect fast, long passes from the scrum half to the fly half, center, and wing, captivating the audience with their skill. Las Leonas broke through the line and advanced toward the try line in the opposition’s end zone. In the scrum in front of the in-goal area, SAKURA 15 showed more resilience in defense than before, but in the end, lock ARAMEDA scored a try with brute force.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 30-19.

The match ended with this score.

While SAKURA 15 secured a convincing victory, Las Leonas demonstrated their sharpness when their attacking strategies were executed effectively. The upcoming match on September 7 at the RWC 2025 is highly anticipated, and we look forward to another thrilling contest. 

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

 (Written by Azul:August 3, 2025)

The third match of the Japan national rugby team’s test match series was held at NOEVIR Stadium in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, on July 12, 2025. The kickoff time on the day of the match was 2:30 PM, during the hottest part of the summer day. The temperature inside the stadium felt like over 33 degrees Celsius. 

On this day, the stadium’s retractable roof was closed, so direct sunlight was avoided, but it was still quite hot. In this heat, not only the players but also the spectators were tested for their endurance against the heat. Although the NOEVIR Stadium reportedly uses air conditioning, it was not at all cool. 

Let us now review the Japan national team’s test matches so far this season. 

	Date	Opponent	match venue	Result
1	6/28	Maori All Blacks	Tokyo	２０－５３●
2	7/5	Wales	Kitakyushu	２４－１９〇
3	7/12	Wales	Kobe
4	8/30	Canada	Sendai
5	10/25	Australia	Tokyo
6	11/8	Ireland	Dublin
7	11/15	Wales	Cardiff
8	11/22	Georgia

In last week’s match, the Japan national rugby team defeated Wales, finally securing a victory against a top-ranked team. As a result, the Japan national team’s world ranking rose from 14th to 12th. The test match against Wales was the second consecutive match following last week’s game. Can they maintain last week’s momentum and secure another victory against Wales this week?

The attendance for the day was 25,074.

Now, let’s introduce the two teams competing on this day.

First, the Visitor Team, Wales.

The Wales national rugby team, nicknamed the Red Dragons, is one of the 4 traditional nations of the British Home Unions and a world-class powerhouse. Their first Test Match was in 1881 against England. As of this day, they are ranked 12th in the world. Their highest ranking in the RWC was 3rd. From the match against Argentina on October 14, 2023, to the match against Japan on July 5, 2025, they suffered an unprecedented 18 consecutive Test Match losses, resulting in their worst-ever world ranking. Will they be able to put an end to this disgraceful losing streak in the test match against Japan on this day?

The starting lineup for this match was as follows.

WALES
No.	Name	height	weight	age	Wales Caps
1	Nicky SMITH	180cm	116kg	31	55
2	Dewi LAKE	185cm	114kg	26	19
3	Archie GRIFFIN	189cm	117kg	22	6
4	Freddie THOMAS	195cm	117kg	23	1
5	Teddy THOMAS	198cm	118kg	24	6
6	Alex MANN	191cm	98kg	23	5
7	Josh MACLEOD	188cm	103kg	28	2
8	Aaron WAINWRIGHT	188cm	106kg	27	55
9	Kieran HARDY	185cm	89kg	29	25
10	Dan EDWARDS	178cm	83kg	22	2
11	Joshua ADAMS	185cm	94kg	30	61
12	Ben THOMAS	183cm	91kg	26	12
13	Johnny WILLIAMS	191cm	100kg	28	8
14	Thomas RODGERS	180cm	91kg	26	10
15	Blair MURRAY	173cm	75kg	23	8

As can be seen from the number of caps, the Welsh touring team for this match features many young players who are expected to lead the future of Wales. This situation is similar across all nations as they prepare for the next RWC.

** Player to watch **

Joshua Adams. 185 cm, 94 kg, 30 years old. Wales caps = 61. Position = WTB. He recorded the most tries in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Wales’ playing style emphasizes open play more than Japan’s. Therefore, the wings are filled with players who have outstanding decision-making abilities. Adams is a world-class player who has made a name for himself globally. He makes accurate judgments in games, always gets involved in scoring opportunities, and when he gets the ball, he does the decisive work to score. He is truly a professional point scorer. In this game as well, every move Adams makes will be worth watching.

Next, the latest information on the home team, the Japanese national team, nicknamed the Brave Blossoms.

Last season, the team suffered a complete defeat against the top-ranked teams, and if they were to achieve similar results this season, it would affect the future of Head Coach Eddy Jones, according to some media reports, causing tension within the team. However, the Brave Blossoms broke the bad streak with their victory in the first match against Wales. The upcoming match will be a historic test match against a powerhouse nation, with the team aiming for consecutive victories. 

The starting lineup for the day was as follows. 

Brave Blossoms
No.	Name	height	weight	age	Japan Caps
1	Yota KAMIMORI	172cm	105kg	26	1
2	Mamoru HARADA	175cm	101kg	26	11
3	Keijiro TAMEFUSA	180cm	108kg	23	10
4	Epineri　ULUIVITI	198cm	118kg	29	7
5	Warner DEARNS	201m	123kg	23	22
6	Michael LEITCH	189m	105kg	36	88
7	Jack CORNELSEN	195cm	110kg	30	21
8	Faulua MAKISI	187m	112kg	28	15
9	Naoto SAITO	165cm	75kg	27	24
10	Seungsin LEE	176cm	88kg	24	19
11	Halatoa VAILEA	187cm	105kg	26	1
12	Shogo NAKANO	186cm	100kg	28	8
13	Dylan RILEY	187cm	102kg	27	29
14	Kippei ISHIDA	167cm	75kg	25	1
15	Ichigo NAKAKUSU	174cm	84kg	25	1

Like Wales, the Brave Blossoms are also fielding many young players in preparation for the next RWC. Will any players step up and deliver a standout performance in this match? 

** Player to Watch **

Halatoa VAILEA. 187 cm, 105 kg, 26 years old. Position: WTB, CTB, FB, SO, No. 8. Born in Tonga. Graduated from Nippon Sport Science University. Club affiliation: Kubota SPARKS. A talented player who has been in the spotlight since his college days, he was finally selected for the Japanese national team this season. In addition to his natural physical strength, he has a proven track record as a place kicker and is a versatile player who can play both forward and back positions. In his debut for the Japanese national team in the recent match against Wales, he scored his first try, demonstrating his competitiveness and decisiveness. It will be exciting to see how he continues to grow in the future.

Now, let’s begin the first half. 

The match kicked off with the Brave Blossoms’ kickoff. 

9 minutes into the first half: 

Since last week’s match, the Brave Blossoms have begun to use short punts behind the opponent’s defense as one of their offensive tactics.

Both teams fought fiercely for possession of the ball. Here, Wales turned over the ball near the halfway line, moved to the left, broke through the enemy’s defense, passed to FB MURRAY, and finally passed to WTB ADAMS, who ran into the enemy’s in-goal area and scored a try in the left center of the in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 0-7, with Wales taking the lead.

19 minutes into the first half: 

In the first half, Wales had more time on the attack, while the Brave Blossoms had few opportunities to attack. However, during this period, the Brave Blossoms skillfully connected passes from near the halfway line, with FL LEITCH approaching the try line and exciting the crowd.

24 minutes into the first half:

Wales moved the ball from their own half, and WTB ADAMS carried it into the in-goal area, but he dropped the ball in front of him and was unable to score.

However, after a video review, it was determined that there had been a dangerous tackle during Wales’ attack, and the Brave Blossoms were awarded a penalty goal opportunity in front of the goalposts near the 10-meter line in the opponent’s half. Brave Blossoms’ SO LEE converted the kick, bringing the score to 3-7.

28 minutes into the first half:

Wales had been dominating with their passing game up to this point, but during this period, they shifted to a forward-based attack and made gains.

First, Wales advanced nearly 10 meters in a maul after a lineout with their own ball, then dominated the scrum and approached the enemy’s try line. 

Here, the Brave Blossoms committed a foul in the scrum, and Wales gained a lineout opportunity on the right side near the enemy’s try line. Wales then attempted to advance again with a maul attack and scored a try in the right center of the opponent’s in-goal area.

Wales had corrected the issues they had struggled with in set pieces the previous week. 

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 3-14.

Brave Blossoms’ No. 8 MAKISI was temporarily sent off for 10 minutes due to a series of fouls during this attack and defense.

36 minutes into the first half:

Brave Blossoms was attacked by Wales, who took advantage of the fact that they were one man down due to the sending off.

First, Brave Blossoms was pushed back into their own territory after committing a foul in a scrum.

From there, Wales launched an attack, and WTB ADAMS, who received a pass on the left wing, showed off his high running skills, dodging 2 Brave Blossoms defenders with a swipe and breaking through the line. He then passed to SH HARDY, who had followed up, and HARDY scored a try right under the goalposts.

The conversion kick was successful, bringing the score to 3-21.

40 minutes into the first half: 

Here, the Brave Blossoms made an unusual move. Just before the end of the first half, they substituted all 3 players in the first row of the forward pack at once. Up to this point, Wales had dominated the game, so this substitution seemed to be a strong message from Head Coach Jones that he wanted to change the momentum of the game.

In the first scrum after the substitutions, the Brave Blossoms pushed through and drew a collapsing penalty from the opposition. The Brave Blossoms opted for a penalty kick, secured the ball from the lineout, and immediately launched an attack. The ball was passed from the No. 8 and CTB to the substitute prop TAKEUTI, who charged toward the opposition’s try line.

TAKEUTI was stopped by the Welsh defense just before the in-goal area, but he picked up the ball and charged again, scoring a try in the left center of the opponent’s in-goal area.

This spirited play by the Brave Blossoms in the final moments of the first half drew the loudest cheers of the day from the stadium.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 10-21.

The first half ended here. Will the Brave Blossoms be able to carry the momentum they gained at the end of the first half into the second half? The crowd at NOEBIA Stadium waited with bated breath as the teams headed into halftime.

Now, the second half begins.

The second half kicked off with Wales’ kickoff.

9 minutes into the second half: 

The Brave Blossoms changed their attacking strategy in the second half. Once they entered the opposition’s territory, they attempted to break through using passes instead of kicks.

The Brave Blossoms penetrated deep into the opposition’s territory but failed to score.

Wales then won a scrum in the opposition’s territory, forcing the opposition to commit a “Not Release the Ball” foul. Wales opted for a penalty goal, which was successfully converted by SO Edwards, bringing the score to 10-24.

The first score of the second half was scored by Wales.

19 minutes into the second half:

The game became evenly matched at this point. Both teams broke through the line during attacks, but the ball was turned over in a dizzying series of plays.

However, when Wales launched an attack from the left side, Brave Blossoms’ lock DEARNS charged the opposing kick, and the ball rolled deep into the enemy territory. Brave Blossoms secured the ball and advanced toward the enemy try line, leading to a scrum.

From there, Brave Blossoms lock DEARNS charged forward with the ball and secured it in the middle of the right side of the opponent’s in-goal area.

After video review, the try was awarded to Brave Blossoms. The conversion kick after the try was missed, but the score became 15-24.

22 minutes into the second half:

After the try, Wales restarted with a kickoff and continued their attacks in the enemy’s territory. However, due to the heat and humidity in the stadium, Wales’ SO EDWARDS dropped the ball, which was picked up by Brave Blossoms’ CTB RILEY, who ran more than 50 meters and scored a try right under the enemy’s goalposts. The conversion kick after the try was successful, narrowing the score to 22-24, a mere 2-point difference.

35 minutes into the second half:

As the match entered its final stages, both teams began to show signs of fatigue. Players began to cramp up, making it difficult to run, and both teams resorted to kicking the ball back and forth.

Amidst this, Wales crossed the 22-meter line in the opponent’s territory and launched a series of attacks with all their might.

The Brave Blossoms defended fiercely, but Wales’ determination prevailed, forming a numerical advantage on the left side of the field, and finally, SO EDWARDS scored a try in the left center of the opponent’s in-goal area. 

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 22-31. 

The match ended with this score, and Wales managed to stop their losing streak in test matches at 18. In the sweltering heat exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, this Wales vs. Japan test match ended with a 1-1 record. This fall, a match in Wales’ home stadium is scheduled, where the outcome will be decided. Which team will emerge victorious in the third match? We look forward to an exciting contest.

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊