The Japanese national rugby team will play five matches, including test matches, in Japan from July to August as part of their efforts to prepare for the World Cup, which will open in France this September.

The Japan national team, ranked 10th in the world rankings, is aiming for a record-high top 4 at the World Cup, which will start in September, surpassing the best 8 of the previous tournament.



The Japan Rugby Union announced on the 24th that it will play five domestic games, including three test matches, from July to August as part of its preparations for the tournament.



According to that, on July 8, "JAPAN XV" and "AllBlacks XV",

the second team of the Japanese national team and the New Zealand national team, will play against each other


at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo .

▽ On July 15th, the second team of the Japanese national team and the New Zealand national team will play at Egao Kenko Stadium in Kumamoto City.

A week later, three test matches were scheduled.

▽ On July 22nd, Samoa, ranked 11th in the

world, will play in the first round of the World Cup at the Sapporo Dome

.

They will face Fiji, ranked 14th in the world, either domestically.

The Japan Rugby Union hopes to increase the momentum for the World Cup by holding these five matches in Japan.

On August 26th, just before the start of the World Cup, the Japanese national team will face Italy in a test match against Italy, ranked 13th in the world.














“The five home games will be a big part of our preparations for the World Cup,” said Jamie Joseph, head coach of the Japan national team. I have no doubt that every match will be fast, strong and very interesting.”

Six match schedule until the Japan national team World Cup

▽7/8 (Sat) JAPANXV vs All BlacksXV＠Tokyo



▽7/15 (Sat) Japan National Team vs All BlacksXV＠Kumamoto



▽7/22 (Sat) Japan National Team vs Samoa National Team＠Hokkaido



▽7/29 (Sat) Japan National Team vs Tonga National Team @ Osaka



▽ 8/5 (Sat) Japan National Team vs Fiji National Team @ Domestic (undecided)



▽ 8/26 (Sat) Japan National Team vs Italy National Team @ Italy