Eddie Jones has selected an initial squad of 55 players who could potentially be involved in the JAPAN XV and Brave Blossoms fixtures, which commence from June 2026. The JRFU said players not on that list may be selected for the Japan national team in the future, depending on their performances. Both overseas-based players, Warner Dearns (Hurricanes) and Naoto Saito (Toulouse), are included.
Eddie Jones has selected an initial squad of 55 players who could potentially be involved in the JAPAN XV and Brave Blossoms fixtures, which commence from June 2026. The JRFU said players not on that list may be selected for the Japan national team in the future, depending on their performances. Both overseas-based players, Warner Dearns (Hurricanes) and Naoto Saito (Toulouse), are included.
From the JRLO - Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay has the largest representation with 11 players selected, followed by 7 from Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, and 6 each from Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath and Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.
The JAPAN XV will get the Senior Men’s season underway with an uncapped match against the Maori All Blacks on June 27th. They have played each other six times, and Japan have only secured one win. When they played last year, JAPAN XV went down 20-53 in Tokyo.
The Brave Blossoms then take part in the new Nations Championship before facing the Wallabies home and away and the November section of the Nations Championship away from home.
Some of the selections to note are that of prop Keita Inagaki from the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, who top Division 1 in the JRLO, as he has not played a test match since the pool stage match against Argentina at RWC 2023. He has 53 caps to his name.
Eddie Jones has selected and capped dozens of new players since he took over in his second stint in Japan as Head Coach, and he has not been shy of selecting University players.
Among players not from the Japan Rugby League One are fly-half Ryunosuke Ito, who led Meiji University to the 62nd All-Japan University Rugby Football Championship on January 11, 2026, Kenshin Shimizu, who was part of the front row for the All-Japan runner-up Waseda University team, and second-year university student Masataka Nakamori, who plays flank for the University of Tsukuba.
Meiji University third-year fullback Takenoshita Jingo is also included, but he participated in the U23 Japan National Team's Australia tour last spring, as well as Japan XV matches
Waseda University player Yazaki Yoshitaka, who already has nine caps, is also included in the 55-man selection.
From the Japan Rugby League One, Eddie Jones has gone for more foreign-born size in the second row. South African-born Ruan Botha (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay) and Australian-born Michael Storberg (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), who has won the most lineouts in JRLO so far this season, are both uncapped and included.
New Zealand-born Rob Thompson, who previously has played for the Crusaders and Highlanders, is also uncapped and selected. The centre also has six caps for the Maori All Blacks and will be competing with the likes of foreign-born Dylan Riley and Charlie Lawrence (both selected), who were prominent in the midfield for the Brave Blossoms.
Inoke Burua, who was born in Fiji but studied in Japan and previously played for the Sunwolves, is also included as an uncapped player.
92-cap Leitch Michael, who is yet to play in a Brave Lupus shirt this season, has been included.
Newly Selected Players:
There are 12 uncapped players in the wider squad, including the three mentioned university players.
Kanato HIRANO (MIE Honda HEAT), Kenshin SHIMIZU (Waseda University), Ryuji Fujimura (URAYASU D-Rocks), Vea Tamoefolau (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), Michael Stolberg (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), Ruan Botha (Kubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY), Masato Nakamori (University of Tsukuba), Asahi Doei (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Ryunosuke Ito (Meiji University), Rob Thompson (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), Inoke Burua (Kobelco Kobe Steelers)
Masato Tsuchida, Chairman of the Japan Rugby Football Union, said, “With the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia coming up next year, this year will be a crucial one for the Japan national team, with every game having great significance.
We will continue to prepare so that together with all our fans who always support us, we can celebrate this joyous moment in a packed stadium. We ask for your enthusiastic support as you look forward to the progress of the Japanese national team as they challenge for the top spot in the world."
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026
June 27th (Saturday) JAPAN XV vs Maori All Blacks - Paloma Mizuho Stadium (Aichi)
August 8th (Saturday) Japan vs Australia - Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiosaka City (Osaka)
Nations Championship 2026
July 4th (Saturday) Japan vs Italy - To be determined (Tokyo)
July 11th (Saturday) Japan vs Ireland - TBC
July 18th (Saturday) Japan vs France National Stadium (Tokyo)
No mention was made of the second Nations Championship fixture against Ireland on July 11th, which is meant to be a ‘home’ Test. Currently, there is also no mention of the Pacific Nations Cup Tests for 2026 or if that tournament will take place this year.
We know that overseas fixtures for the Brave Blossoms already include the return match against the Wallabies in Townsville, Queensland Country Bank Stadium on 15 August 2026, and the away Nations Championship 2026 matches in November against Wales, England and Scotland on consecutive matches.