Japan lock in World Cup squad headed for England
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Japan head coach Lesley McKenzie has picked the 32 Japanese players who will be heading to England, which includes veteran Seina Saito, who is geared for her third World Cup.
The Sakura will face Ireland, New Zealand, and Spain in Pool C, and they are looking to deliver something special to their fans.
Veteran back row Seina Saito, who has recovered from a serious injury, made it back in time and will play in her third World Cup. On the opposing end, 20-year-old trailblazer Matsumura Misaki will be the youngest World Cup squad member, in what has been a speedy ascension for the wing.
The squad consists of 18 forwards and 14 backs and is captained by 39-cap veteran Iroha Nagata. The squad is relatively experienced, with 12 of the 32 having 25 caps or more, while only three players hold fewer than 10.
Captain Iroha Nagata, scrumhalf Megumi Abe, prop Sachiko Kato, wing Komachi Imakugi, and utility back Ayasa Otsuka are some of the other main protagonists of the Sakura ensemble.
Drawn in Pool C, Japan are set to face Ireland, Spain, and six-time champions and current two-time defending champions, New Zealand.
Destination: #RWC2025 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/cRCJLj7odP
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) July 29, 2025
The Sakura Fifteen will head to England for their final preparations ahead of a must-win opening Pool C match against Ireland on Sunday, August 24, at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton.
They will then face New Zealand at Sandy Park in Exeter, before heading north for their final pool match against Spain at York Community Stadium.
With an unbeaten, five-match winning streak in 2025, including a first-ever win over the USA and a two-match home series win over Pool C rivals Spain, the Sakura Fifteen leave Japan well prepared and full of confidence.
“I’m immensely proud to announce this squad. It’s been three years since this World Cup cycle began, and thanks to the support of the JRFU, the new competitions from World Rugby, and the work, dedication, and passion of the players and staff, we’re a very different team than when we set out three years ago,” said head coach, Lesley McKenzie.
“The challenge that lies ahead is a little more familiar, yet it’s no less exciting. It’s starting to get very tangible as we leave next week for the Italy warm-up.”
Japan squad:
Forwards
Sachiko Kato
Wako Kitano
Hinata Komaki
Nijiho Nagata
Miharu Machida
Manami Mine
Asuka Kuge
Ayumu Kokaji
Kotomi Taniguchi
Ayano Sakurai
Yuna Sato
Otoka Yoshimura
Masami Kawamura
Sakurako Korai
Seina Saito
Iroha Nagata (captain)
Kyoko Hosokawa
Jennifer Nduka
Backs
Megumi Abe
Moe Tsukui
Ayasa Otsuka
Minori Yamamoto
Nao Ando
Kanako Kobayashi
Sakurako Hatada
Mana Furuta
Haruka Hirotsu
Komachi Imakugi
Mele Yua Havili Kagawa
Misaki Matsumura
Sora Nishimura
Rinka Matsuda
