Japan Women vs. Wales Women: October 31 Kickoff, Teams and WXV Match Guide

Japan Women host Wales Women on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Saitama Prefecture. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+09:00), equivalent to 7:00 a.m. UTC and 7:00 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+00:00) in Wales. The WXV Global Series match is the second meeting between the teams in eight days, after Wales won 17–0 in Tokyo on October 24.

Both teams have published their matchday selections. This is a pre-match guide: the October 31 result is not available before kickoff and should not be confused with the result of the first Test.

Japan vs. Wales Women: match details

The host union confirms the date, venue and kickoff on its official schedule. The UK is on GMT on October 31, after the October daylight saving time change; the 7:00 a.m. UK kickoff is therefore the same instant as 7:00 a.m. UTC, not 6:00 a.m. UTC.

Confirmed starting lineups

Japan's selection was announced by the Japan Rugby Football Union on October 29. World Rugby has also published both starting XVs and the replacements. Shirt numbers are shown below to make the two team sheets easy to compare; late changes remain possible before kickoff.

Named replacements

Japan (16–23): Asuka Kuge, Manami Mine, Juka Fuji, Mio Nishimura, Sakurako Korai, Anan Seo, Chihiro Ito and Sora Nishimura.

Wales (16–23): Molly Reardon, Maisie Davies, Elan Jones, Jorja Aiono, Georgia Evans, Bryonie King, Keira Bevan and Jenna De Vera.

For the original selections, consult the Japan Rugby Football Union squad announcement and World Rugby's October 29 WXV team news. The host union also provides Japan's English-language team sheet.

What happened in the first Japan–Wales Test?

Wales beat Japan 17–0 on October 24 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo, leading 7–0 at halftime. Scrum-half Seren Lockwood scored two tries, hooker Kelsey Jones scored the other, and Freya Bell added a conversion. Japan did not score. The official record is available in the Japan Rugby Football Union match results.

That score explains the immediate stakes in Kumagaya. Wales have a chance to complete back-to-back wins over their hosts, while Japan will look to turn possession and attacking phases into points. The first game's scoreline is useful context, but it is not a prediction of the second result.

Three things to watch in Kumagaya

1. Japan's reshaped back three

Japan head coach Toshizumi Kitagawa has selected Mele Yua Havili Kagawa, Honoka Tsunokawa and Komachi Imakugi across the back three. Captain Moe Tsukui starts at scrum-half alongside fly-half Sawa Harada. Their ability to find space, retain the ball under pressure and finish attacking opportunities will matter after Japan was held scoreless in Tokyo.

2. Wales' changes in the pack and midfield

Wales coach Sean Lynn has made five starting changes from the first Test. Gwenllian Pyrs, Gwen Crabb and Bethan Lewis come into the pack; Lleucu George starts at fly-half, while Courtney Keight takes the inside-center position after Freya Bell's injury. Co-captains Kate Williams and Alex Callender remain in the back row, with Callender at No. 8. Watch whether the revised combination can maintain Wales' set-piece platform and defensive organization.

3. What happens after the replacements arrive

The two teams have eight named replacements each. Changes at scrum-half, fly-half and in the forwards could alter the game's pace and territory. A useful way to judge the second half is to look at discipline, lineout possession and whether either side is able to turn visits to the opposition's 22-meter area into points, rather than focusing only on possession percentage.

How to watch and where to find the final score

In Japan, the host union lists live coverage on J SPORTS 1 and J SPORTS On Demand beginning at 3:45 p.m. JST (UTC+09:00), which is 6:45 a.m. UTC. For other countries, World Rugby's WXV viewing guide lists rights holders by market, including BBC iPlayer for Wales matches in the UK. Streaming access can depend on location and subscription terms.

For matchday updates, the official Japan–Wales fixture page is a practical place to check the score and match record when they are posted. The World Rugby match center is another reference, although individual feeds may update at different times. A final score should only be presented as confirmed after an official completed-match report appears.

Attending the match: quick checklist

• Confirm the location: Kumagaya Rugby Stadium's main field in Kumagaya Sports and Culture Park, Saitama Prefecture—not the Tokyo venue used on October 24.
• Plan for the gates: The host's event information lists gates opening at 3:00 p.m. JST (UTC+09:00), with outdoor activity booths opening at 2:00 p.m. JST (UTC+09:00).
• Check for late changes: Review the official team sheets and event notice shortly before traveling.
• After the match: Use the official result and match report, not a pre-match listing, to verify the score, scorers and final statistics.

The Japan Rugby Football Union's spectator information is the source for gate times and any updated event-day instructions.