Wales women's rugby team will aim to complete a double over Japan in the WXV Global Series on Saturday, 31 October 2026, at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Saitama Prefecture. Wales, ranked 11th in the world, secured a 17-0 victory in Tokyo last weekend and go into the match as favourites.
Coach Lynn warns against complacency
Head coach Sean Lynn insisted his side would not take Japan lightly despite the clean-sheet win. "We were wary about them last Saturday and we see no difference this week," Lynn said. "Japan are very efficient, very regimented. Some of their defensive displays were very good [last weekend] and they're a hard side to break down."
Five changes show squad depth
Lynn made five starting changes, rewarding players who impressed off the bench. Bethan Lewis, Gwenllian Pyrs, Lleucu George, Gwen Crabb and Courtney Keight return to the starting XV, boasting a combined 248 Test caps. Keight replaces the injured Freya Bell. Co-captain Alex Callender moves to number eight.
Japan make three changes
Japan, ranked 12th, have made three starting changes, with Komachi Imakugi at full-back and Mele Yua Havili Kagawa on the wing. Flanker Nduka Jennier is the only pack change. Number eight Savannah Bodman and centre Sophie Akiko Langford retain their places after debuting last week.
Form guide
Japan have not won since beating Hong Kong China in May to secure their seventh consecutive Asia Rugby Women's Championship. They pushed Ireland close in Galway last month, losing 43-19 and 31-24. Wales' 17-0 win was their first clean sheet in eight years. A victory on Saturday would give Wales back-to-back Test wins for the first time since June 2024.
Captain calls for improved performance
Co-captain Alex Callender said there was frustration in camp after the Tokyo win but acknowledged nilling a team away was "a pretty good scoreline". She added: "We know that Japan will be wounded and that they'll be coming out for 80 minutes again. It's about backing up the win but also putting in a better performance to come off the field and really know that we've given everything."
Commentator's view
BBC Wales commentator Gareth Rhys Owen noted Wales "won ugly" last weekend but highlighted a mentality shift: "For so long, the conversation has been about finding positives in defeat. Now they're identifying shortcomings in victory. That's a significant shift in mentality."
Line-ups
Japan: Imakugi; Tsunokawa, Langford, Kataoka, Havili Kagawa; Harada, Tsukui; Komaki, Nagaoka, Kitano, Kawamura, Sato, Asari, Jennifer, Bodman. Replacements: Kuge, Mine, Fuji, M Nishimura, Korai, Seo, Ito, S Nishimura.
Wales: Neumann; N Metcalfe, Cox, Keight, A Williams; George, Lockwood, Pyrs, K Jones, Tuipulotu, B Metcalfe, Crabb, K Williams (co-capt), Lewis, Callender (co-capt). Replacements: Reardon, Davies, E Jones, Aiono, Evans, King, Bevan, De Vera.
Referee: Julianne Zussman (RC). Assistants: Sunny Lee (HKCR), Hibiki Ikeda (JRFU). TMO: Matt Rodden (HKCR). FPRO: Koki Yamauchi (JRFU).
