Key Highlights
- Japan and Wales have confirmed their official matchday squads and bench selections for their international rugby clash.
- Disciplinary action saw three yellow cards handed out during the fixture, with Japan’s Nduka and Welsh duo Keira Bevan and Abbey Dallavalle all spending time in the sin bin.
- Wales named Kate Williams and Alex Callender as co-captains, while Julianne Zussman took charge as the match referee.
International Rugby: Japan and Wales Announce Lineups for Test Clash
The matchday 23s for Japan and Wales have been confirmed, locking in both starting lineups, substitutes, and match officials for the international test fixture. Wales entered the contest led by co-captains Kate Williams and Alex Callender, anchoring a forward pack that featured Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, and Sisilia Tuipulotu in the front row, alongside second-row locks Bradley Metcalfe and Georgia Crabb.
The Welsh backline saw Courtney Keight combine with Hannah Jones in the midfield alongside Carys Cox, with Jasmine Joyce-Butchers and Carys Neumann securing the outside channels, and Lleucu George orchestrating play from fly-half paired with scrum-half Sian Lockwood. Their opponents, Japan, named an experienced XV featuring fullback Megumi Imakugi and a dynamic back three including Komachi Tsunokawa, Kanako Langford, and Hinano Havili Kagawa, supported by the half-back pairing of Ayasa Harada and Moe Tsukui.
Disciplinary Challenges: Japan and Wales Face Second-Half Sin Bins
Discipline proved to be a critical factor during the second half of the contest as both sides found themselves temporarily reduced in numbers. Japan was the first to suffer a setback when Nduka was sent to the sin bin at the 44-minute mark, handing Wales an early opportunity in the second period to capitalize on player advantage.
However, Wales encountered their own disciplinary troubles late in the encounter. Replacements Keira Bevan and Abbey Dallavalle were each issued yellow cards in rapid succession—Bevan receiving hers in the 68th minute and Dallavalle following shortly after in the 70th minute. The back-to-back sin bins forced Wales to manage the closing stages under severe defensive pressure with reduced personnel.
Match Officials and Technical Team
The fixture was officiated by an international officiating team led by Canadian referee Julianne Zussman. Assisting Zussman on the touchlines were assistant referees Sunny Lee of the Hong Kong China Rugby union and Hibiki Ikeda representing the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU).
Off-field decision-making was overseen by Television Match Official (TMO) Matt Rodden from Hong Kong China Rugby, while Koki Yamauchi of the Japan Rugby Football Union served as the Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO) to handle in-game card reviews and disciplinary protocols.
Why This Matters
International test matches between emerging and established women’s rugby nations serve as critical benchmarks ahead of major global tournaments, including WXV competitions and the Women’s Rugby World Cup. For Wales, managing match discipline remains an area under close scrutiny as late-game yellow cards can drastically shift momentum against tier-one and developing opponents alike. For Japan, testing their set-piece and defensive structures against physical Six Nations opposition provides invaluable experience for building squad depth and climbing the world rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the team captains for the match?
Wales were led on the field by co-captains Kate Williams and Alex Callender in the loose forwards.
Which players received yellow cards during the match?
Three players were shown yellow cards: Japan’s Nduka in the 44th minute, followed by Wales replacements Keira Bevan in the 68th minute and Abbey Dallavalle in the 70th minute.
Who served as the match referee and TMO?
The match referee was Julianne Zussman of Rugby Canada, assisted by Sunny Lee and Hibiki Ikeda, with Matt Rodden acting as the Television Match Official (TMO).
