Japan women's national rugby union team
Nickname(s) | Cherry Blossom 15 (桜十五 (kanji), さくらフィフティーン (kana), Sakura fifutīn) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Union | Japan Rugby Football Union | ||
| |||
World Rugby ranking | |||
Current | 12 (as of 23 November 2020) | ||
First international | |||
1991 Japan 0-62 France (Aberavon, Wales 6 April 1991) | |||
Biggest win | |||
Japan 78-0 Hong Kong (Bangkok, Thailand 3 June 2005) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
United States 121-0 Japan (Melrose, Scotland 15 April 1994) | |||
World Cup | |||
Appearances | 4 (First in 1991) |
The Japan women's national rugby union team (Ragubī joshi nihon daihyō (ラグビー女子日本代表), nicknamed Sakura Fifteen) are a national sporting side of Japan, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 1991.[1]
History[]
Japan made their debut at the 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup. Since then, Japan has appeared at three other editions of the World Cup in 1994, 2002 and 2017.[2] The team has won the Asia Rugby Women's Championship in 2015,[3] 2016 and 2017. They qualified for the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.[4]
In November 2021, Japan toured Europe and played test matches against Ireland, Scotland and Wales.[5][6][7][8] Wales defeated Japan 23 - 5, the latter scoring their only try in the 77th minute with a missed conversion.[9] Scotland ran in six tries to give the Sakura's their second loss 36 - 12, at the DAM Health Stadium in Edinburgh.[10] Ireland down to 14 players pulled off an unlikely win to beat Japan 15 - 12.[11]
Current squad[]
Japan's 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup squad:[12][13]
Forwards
|
Backs
|
List of results[]
See Women's international rugby for information about the status of international games and match numbering
Other matches[]
[-] | |||||
2009-09-23 | Burnaby Lake WRFC | 25-24 | Japan | Burnaby Lake | [-] |
[-] | |||||
2009-09-26 | British Columbia | 38-0 | Japan | Brockton Oval, Vancouver | [-] |
[-] | |||||
2010-09-02 | Richmond WRFC | 27-5 | Japan | Old Deer Park | [-] |
[-] | |||||
2010-09-04 | Saracens WRFC | 10-34 | Japan | Bramley Road, Southgate | [-] |
Full internationals[]
[48] | |||||
1991-04-06 (WC) | France | 62-0 | Japan | Aberavon | [19/1/1] |
[56] | |||||
1991-04-10 (WC) | Japan | 0-20 | Sweden | Llanharan | [2/8/1] |
[62] | |||||
1991-04-11 (WC) | Japan | 0-30 | Spain | Cardiff | [3/4/1] |
[86] | |||||
1994-04-13 (WC) | Japan | 10-5 | Sweden | Melrose | [3/11/2] |
[89] | |||||
1994-04-15 (WC) | Japan | 0-121 | United States | Melrose | [4/16/1] |
[96] | |||||
1994-04-17 (WC) | France | 99-0 | Japan | Edinburgh Academicals RFC | [27/5/2] |
[101] | |||||
1994-04-20 (WC) | Canada | 57-0 | Japan | Melrose | [13/6/1] |
[104] | |||||
1994-04-23 (WC) | Ireland | 11-3 | Japan | Boroughmuir | [6/7/1] |
[188] | |||||
1998-04-08 | Japan | 42-14 | Hong Kong | Kumagaya Rugby Stadium | [8/1/1] |
[189] | |||||
1998-04-12 | Japan | 39-0 | Hong Kong | Kumagaya Rugby Stadium | [9/2/2] |
[289] | |||||
2000-09-01 | Samoa | 10-12 | Japan | Apia Park | [1/10/1] |
[296] | |||||
2000-12-15 (WCQ) | Hong Kong | 0-62 | Japan | , Hong Kong | [3/11/3] |
[367] | |||||
2002-05-13 (WC) | Spain | 62-0 | Japan | Barcelona | [45/12/1] |
[374] | |||||
2002-05-17 (WC) | Italy | 30-3 | Japan | Barcelona | [37/13/1] |
[379] | |||||
2002-05-20 (WC) | Japan | 37-3 | Netherlands | Barcelona | [14/58/1] |
[387] | |||||
2002-05-24 (WC) | Ireland | 0-18 | Japan | Barcelona | [48/15/2] |
[470] | |||||
2004-11-06 | Netherlands | 15-7 | Japan | Amsterdam | [66/16/2] |
[472] | |||||
2004-11-14 | Ireland | 55-0 | Japan | Donnybrook | [62/17/3] |
[504] | |||||
2005-06-03 (WCQ) | Hong Kong | 0-78 | Japan | Bangkok | [4/18/4] |
[507] | |||||
2005-06-05 (WCQ) | Kazakhstan | 19-3 | Japan | Bangkok | [32/19/1] |
[649] | |||||
2007-11-02 (AC) | Japan | 6-10 | Kazakhstan | Kunming | [20/38/2] |
[650] | |||||
2007-11-04 (AC) | Japan | 20-7 | Singapore | Kunming | [21/4/1] |
[707] | |||||
2008-06-05 (AC) | Japan | 17-10 | Singapore | Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan | [22/6/2] |
[710] | |||||
2008-06-07 (AC) | Kazakhstan | 39-3 | Japan | Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan | [41/23/3] |
[773] | |||||
2009-11-04 (WCQ) | Singapore | 11-35 | Japan | Republic Polytechnic, Singapore | [10/24/3] |
[776] | |||||
2009-11-06 (WCQ) | Japan | 5-43 | Kazakhstan | Padang, Singapore | [25/43/4] |
[825] | |||||
2010-05-22 | Japan | 17-0 | Hong Kong | Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo | [27/15/5] |
[882] | |||||
2011-04-29 | Hong Kong | 0-15 | Japan | Hong Kong | [17/28/6] |
[945] | |||||
2012-05-19 | Japan | 61-15 | Hong Kong | Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo | [29/19/7] |
[952] | |||||
2012-07-05 (AC) | Japan | 41-17 | Hong Kong | Kunshan, China | [30/20/8] |
[955] | |||||
2012-07-07 (AC) | Japan | 8-17 | Kazakhstan | Kunshan, China | [31/53/25] |
[1011] | |||||
2013-09-04 (AC) | Japan | 82-0 | Hong Kong | Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan | [32/22/9] |
[1014] | |||||
2013-09-07 (AC) | Kazakhstan | 25-23 | Japan | Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan | [55/33/26] |
[1040] | |||||
2014-05-18 (AC) | Japan | 37-5 | Singapore | Aberdeen Stadium, Aberdeen, Hong Kong | [34/22/4] |
[1043] | |||||
2014-05-21 (AC) | Hong Kong | 15-14 | Japan | Aberdeen Stadium, Aberdeen, Hong Kong | [28/35/10] |
[1045] | |||||
2014-05-24 (AC) | Kazakhstan | 49-17 | Japan | Aberdeen Stadium, Aberdeen, Hong Kong | [56/36/5] |
[1109] | |||||
2015-05-09 (AC) | Japan | 27-12 | Kazakhstan | Level-5 Stadium, Fukuoka | [37/65/8] |
[1110] | |||||
2015-05-23 (AC) | Hong Kong | 12-27 | Japan | Aberdeen Sports Ground, Aberdeen, Hong Kong | [29/38/10] |
[1174] | |||||
2016-12-13 | Japan | 55–0 | Fiji | Hong Kong | [39/5/1] |
[1175] | |||||
2016-12-17 | Hong Kong | 8–20 | Japan | Hong Kong | [33/40/11] |
[1196] | |||||
2017-06-11 | Wales | 10–52 | Japan | Ystrad Mynach | [178/41/1] |
[1201] | |||||
2017-07-08 (ARC) | Japan | 58–0 | Hong Kong | Shiroyama | [42/35/12] |
[1203] | |||||
2017-07-15 (ARC) | Hong Kong | 19–60 | Japan | Hong Kong | [36/43/13] |
[1210] | |||||
2017-08-09 (WC) | France | 72–14 | Japan | Billings Park UCD, Dublin | [214/44/3] |
[1215] | |||||
2017-08-13 (WC) | Ireland | 24–14 | Japan | UCD Bowl, Dublin | [150/45/4] |
[1220] | |||||
2017-08-17 (WC) | Australia | 29–15 | Japan | Billings Park UCD, Dublin | [47/46/1] |
[1223] | |||||
2017-08-22 (WC) | Italy | 22–0 | Japan | Queen's University Belfast | [136/48/2] |
[1229] | |||||
2017-08-26 (WC) | Japan | 44–5 | Hong Kong | Queen's University Belfast | [49/41/14] |
[1329] | |||||
2019-07-13 | Australia | 34–5 | Japan | Sportsground 2, Newcastle | [52/50/2] |
[1334] | |||||
2019-07-19 | Australia | 46–3 | Japan | North Sydney Oval, Sydney | [53/51/3] |
[1355] | |||||
2019-11-16 | Italy | 17–17 | Japan | Stadio Fattori, L'Aquila | [127/52/3] |
[1363] | |||||
2019-11-24 | Scotland | 20–24 | Japan | Scotstoun | [-/53/1] |
[] | |||||
2021-11-08 | Wales | 23 - 5 | Japan | Cardiff Arms Park | [] |
[] | |||||
2021-11-15 | Scotland | 36 - 12 | Japan | Edinburgh Rugby Stadium | [] |
[] | |||||
2021-11-21 | Ireland | 15 - 12 | Japan | [] |
Overall[]
Top 20 rankings as of 22 November 2021[14] | |||
Rank | Change* | Team | Points |
1 | England | 96.26 | |
2 | New Zealand | 88.58 | |
3 | 1 | France | 88.43 |
4 | 1 | Canada | 88.15 |
5 | Australia | 78.68 | |
6 | United States | 76.63 | |
7 | Ireland | 76.54 | |
8 | Italy | 76.43 | |
9 | Scotland | 73.48 | |
10 | Spain | 72.10 | |
11 | Wales | 71.02 | |
12 | Japan | 65.49 | |
13 | South Africa | 63.39 | |
14 | Russia | 61.10 | |
15 | Kazakhstan | 60.45 | |
16 | Samoa | 59.72 | |
17 | Netherlands | 58.27 | |
18 | Hong Kong | 57.89 | |
19 | Sweden | 57.73 | |
20 | Germany | 57.72 | |
*Change from the previous week |
(Full internationals only)
Opponent | First game | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canada | 1994 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% |
Fiji | 2016 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
France | 1991 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00% |
Hong Kong | 1998 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 90.91% |
Ireland | 1994 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33.33% |
Italy | 2002 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% |
Kazakhstan | 2005 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.00% |
Netherlands | 2002 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50.00% |
Samoa | 2000 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
Singapore | 2007 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
Spain | 1991 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00% |
Sweden | 1991 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50.00% |
United States | 1994 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% |
Summary | 1991 | 38 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 50.00% |
See also[]
- Sport in Japan
- Japan national rugby union team
References[]
- ^ JRFU (April 8, 2004). "女子ラグビー15年の歴史 - 海外遠征と外国チーム招聘の記録��日本ラグビーフットボール協会|RUGBY:FOR ALL「ノーサイドの精神」を、日本へ、世界へ。" [15 years of Women rugby football - Visiting overseas and hosting international games | Japan Rugby Football Union | Rugby football : For All; propagate the spirit of "no sides" to Japan and to the World.]. www.rugby-japan.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-09-27.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Japan and Hong Kong qualify for Women's World Cup". Asia Rugby. 2016-12-13. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Japan's women crowned Asian champions for first time". World Rugby.org. 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "Sakura Fifteen Qualify for Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Sakura Fifteen Set to Take on Wales". Japan Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ "Sakura Fifteen Confirmed to Play Ireland on European Tour". Japan Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ "Japan Team Announced to Take on Scotland". Japan Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ "Japan Team Announced to Take on Ireland". Japan Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ Sands, Katie (2021-11-08). "Wales beat Japan 23-5 in autumn opener as Joyce scores two tries". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
- ^ "Scotland Women 36 Japan Women 12". Scottish Rugby Union. 2021-11-14. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Doggett, Eamon (2021-11-20). "Ireland v Japan score recap: Ireland did deep with 14 players to pull off win". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
- ^ "Top eight the goal for determined Japan". 31 July 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- ^ "Irish Rugby". irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
- ^ "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
External links[]
- Japan RFU Official English page
- Japan Times Articles by Rich Freeman - Japan Times rugby correspondent until 2005, then at the Daily Yomiuri
- Japan RFU - in Japanese
- Japanese rugby union news from Planet Rugby
- Japan women's national rugby union team
- Japanese rugby union teams
- Asian national women's rugby union teams
- 1991 establishments in Japan
- Rugby clubs established in 1991