With the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup now just days away, all eyes are on Ireland’s opener with Japan. Here’s everything you need to know about Ireland’s Pool C opponents.
When do Ireland start their Rugby World Cup tournament?
Ireland’s opening pool game is this Sunday 24 August, as they face Japan in Franklin's Gardens in Northampton.
Kick-off is at 12 midday, and it is live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, with live radio commentary on 2fm.
Who else is in the pool?
Ireland and Japan are joined in Pool C by Spain and the defending champions, New Zealand.
Have these teams played before?
Yes! Ireland and Japan have played each other on seven previous occasions, with six Irish wins, including at Ireland’s previous World Cup appearance in 2017, a game which the hosts won 24-14 at the UCD Bowl.
In recent times, the sides played three games across the 2021/22 season.
Ireland took the spoils 15-12 in a home clash in the RDS in November of 2021, before a summer tour of Japan the following Summer.
Ireland also reigned victorious in the first Test of the tour, running out 57-22 winners, with the home side taking the second Test and most recent match-up between the teams by 29-10.
How good are Japan?
Japan are currently ranked 11th in the world rankings and enter the tournament off the back of a positive 2025.
They started the year by beating Kazakhstan and Hong Kong in the Asian Championship before defeating the USA Eagles, in LA, early in the summer.
They followed that up by recording two wins over pool rivals Spain on home soil, 32-19 and 30-19; before losing to Italy in Calvisano 33-15 just two weeks ago.
However, in last season’s WXV tournament, the Sakura Fifteen finished bottom of the WXV 2 pool, failing to win any of their three games against South Africa, Scotland or Wales.
The elder stateswoman - Ireland out-half Nicole Fowley on her senior status, the biggest messer in the squad, down time and taking on a dropgoal if needed #RTERugby #RTESport #RWC2025 pic.twitter.com/LRqeFTmEJZ
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 21, 2025
What is their previous World Cup form like?
Japan’s best finish at a major tournament is eighth, going all the way back to 1994.
They finished in 11th spot in 2017, in what was their first tournament since 2002, and were eliminated in the pool stages in 2021, with no wins.
How did they qualify for the tournament?
Japan qualified for this Rugby World Cup off the back of being the Rugby Asia Championship winners in 2024, where they defeated Hong Kong and Kazakhstan in the three-team pool.
They followed that up with a victory in the 2025 tournament meaning they have won each of the last six editions of the Asia Women’s Rugby Championship they have entered.
Who are the names we need to know?
Japan are coached by former Canadian international Lesley McKenzie. An experienced coach who has plied her trade in Canada and New Zealand, the Canadian first linked up with the Japan Sevens team in 2018 as an assistant coach.
Less than a year later, McKenzie returned to the 15-a-side game, where she was appointed head coach of Japan. During her time as head coach, McKenzie has led the team to two World Cups and has stated her aim of making the last eight this time around.
At the squad announcement press conference, she told reporters, "We’ve got a fairly tough pool sequence in that we start with Ireland who have in two years gone from the third tier to the first tier of the WXV competition.
"They will be our toughest challenge and our benchmark for success in terms of working towards a quarter-final spot."
The Japan squad is captained by experienced back-row forward Iroha Nagata. Now 26, Nagata is the one of the most capped players in the travelling squad with 40 caps her country.
A tenacious ball-carrying threat, Nagata is widely experienced at both codes, featuring prominently with the Japan Sevens squad in recent years, where she won a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games.
Nagata also featured at the 2017 World Cup in Ireland.
Another player to watch is Sachiko Kato. Having made her international debut at just 17-years-old, Kato has been long seen as a promising prospect in the Japanese game.
Kato featured at the 2021 World Cup, as part of a storied first part of her career. After the tournament, she signed for English club Exeter Chiefs.
She has since returned to Japan and plays for the Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars.
Electric 20-year-old winger Matsumura Misaki is one to keep an eye on, if Japan can get her reliable service to attack from.
Ireland will be hoping to keep all three players quiet on Sunday, in order to cruise into the next round with a victory.
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Watch Ireland v Japan in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday from 11.30am on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to live radio commentary on 2fm
