Wales v Japan - all you need to know
Wales hooker Dewi Lake captained the tourists in Japan in the summer of 2025
- Published
Wales continue their autumn international campaign this Saturday when they host Japan.
After suffering a record 52-28 defeat to Argentina in Steve Tandy's first game in charge, Eddie Jones brings his side to the Principality Stadium this weekend.
Wales will then face Tests against New Zealand and South Africa on the subsequent two Saturdays this month.
Why is Wales v Japan so important with regards to World Cup seedings?
It shows how low Wales' stock has fallen that the game against Japan is the must-win match of the autumn campaign.
It is not just so Tandy can try and gain his first win as head coach. The result will prove vital to the 2027 World Cup draw taking place on 3 December.
Next month teams will be drawn into six pools of four for the group stage of the tournament in Australia in two years.
The top six sides in the world rankings will be placed in band one for the draw and would therefore avoid playing each other in the pool stage.
The next six sides from seventh to 12th will be drawn in the second band of teams.
It is, therefore, imperative for Wales to stay in the top 12 if they want a more favourable draw.
Wales are currently ranked 12th in the world with Japan just one place below them in 13th, so victory is crucial this weekend for the hosts at the Principality Stadium.
A draw for Japan would see them overtake Tandy's side in the pecking order. The Cherry Blossoms will also have a further chance to cement a spot in the top dozen when they face 11th-placed Georgia on 22 November.
Wales will be playing the best two sides in the world in the final two weekends when the All Blacks and the Springboks arrive in Cardiff.
"It's something we are aware of," said Wales wing Josh Adams
"It adds to the importance of the Japan game with the World Cup draw in December. That adds a little more jeopardy to that match."
What time will Wales v Japan kick off?
The match takes place at 17:40 GMT at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, 15 November.
How can I follow Wales v Japan on the BBC?
There will be live audio commentary on BBC Sounds via BBC Radio Wales Extra and BBC Radio Cymru 2.
The commentary will also be available on the BBC Sport website where you can follow blow-by-blow action with our live text commentary.
For all the build-up and analysis, make sure to follow the Welsh rugby section on the BBC Sport website.
When will Wales name their team and will Louis Rees-Zammit start?
Wales are due to name their side on Thursday and it will be interesting to see how many changes Tandy decides to make.
There will be at least one alteration with inspirational captain Jac Morgan ruled out of the rest of the autumn after suffering a dislocated shoulder, a huge blow after his all-action display against the Pumas.
The big focus will be on whether Louis Rees-Zammit starts for the first time in more than two years, following his return from the NFL.
The Bristol wing impressed as a second-half replacement in the Argentina loss.
Who is the referee?
English referee Matthew Carley will be the man with the whistle in Cardiff on the weekend.
He will be assisted by fellow countryman Anthony Woodthorpe and Australia's Nic Berry.
Englishman Andrew Jackson is the television match official (TMO) with South African Quinton Immelman in charge of the foul play review process (FPRO).
What form are Wales and Japan in?
Japan head coach Eddie Jones is a former boss of England and Australia
Wales and Japan both go into this game on the back of defeats.
As Argentina brushed past Tandy's side to inflict a 19th defeat in 20 games for Wales, Ireland outlasted a tenacious Japan side to win 41-10 in a largely underwhelming autumn Test in Dublin.
Ireland scored three tries in the final 13 minutes to put a gloss on the scoreline after Japan had played plenty of enterprising rugby in the first half.
Eddie Jones' visitors could not exert the same influence after the interval, failing to score in the second period and Wales will be looking at that.
These two nations are well acquainted after Wales visited Japan in the summer where the Test series ended 1-1.
The hosts completed a second ever win against Wales in the sweltering heat of Kitakyushu, before the tourists levelled the series with victory in Kobe which ended the nation's record of 18 international defeats.
Past meetings between Wales and Japan
Wales and Japan have a rivalry that stretches back 52 years
Wales have won 14 of their 16 matches against Japan since they first met in 1973.
Non-capped Tests
Wales 62-14 Japan, Cardiff, 6 October 1973
Japan 12-56 Wales, Osaka, 21 September 1975
Japan 6-82 Wales, Tokyo, 24 September 1975
Wales 29-24 Japan, Cardiff, 22 October 1983.
Full Tests
Wales 55-5 Japan, Cardiff, 16 October 1993
Wales 57-10 Japan, Bloemfontein, 27 May 1995
Wales 64-15 Japan, Cardiff, 9 October 1999
Japan 10-64 Wales, Osaka, 10 June 2001
Japan 30-53 Wales, Tokyo, 17 June 2001
Wales 98-0 Japan, Cardiff, 26 November 2004
Wales 72-18 Japan, Cardiff, 20 September 2007
Japan 18-22 Wales, Osaka, 8 June 2013
Japan 23-8 Wales, Tokyo, 15 June 2013
Wales 33-30 Japan, Cardiff, 19 November 2016
Japan 24-19 Wales, Kitakyushu, 5 July 2025
Japan 22-31 Wales, Kobe, 12 July 2025.