The following article about Sakura Fifteen’s 26-member squad has been kindly provided by JRFU
The Japan Rugby Football Union is delighted to announce the Sakura Fifteen’s 26-member squad for the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship 2024 kicking off this month in Hong Kong. Japan will play two matches on tour, with their first against hosts Hong Kong China on May 22 and their follow-up match five days later when they take on Kazakhstan on May 22.
Much is at stake in Hong Kong with the tournament winner granted automatic qualification to next year’s Rugby World Cup in England as well as a place in World Rugby’s WXV2 competition later in the year. Meanwhile, the runner-up will qualify for WXV3, the third tier of the competition and thereby keep their hopes alive for potential RWC2025 qualification with the top five non-qualified teams at the end of WXV 2024 earning their spot at RWC2025.
Commenting on the squad announcement ahead of the team’s departure to Hong Kong, Sakura Fifteen Head Coach, Lesley McKenzie said:
“At this year’s championship we want to show that we’re a team that’s got plans for the World Cup next year. This is our qualification for England 2025 and this year’s WXV Tier Two. We’ve got some unfinished business in terms of how we started and finished games last year and the main thing for us in this championship is to take every moment seriously and to put our stamp on each involvement. I’m really excited and looking forward to it.”
Japan’s Sakura Fifteen Squad for the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship 2024
| Name | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | DOB |
| 阿部 恵 Megumi ABE | 147 | 55 | 1998/4/28 |
| 安藤 菜緒 Nao ANDO | 169 | 64 | 2001/7/17 |
| 今釘 小町 Komachi IMAKUGI |
158 | 60 | 2002/1/6 |
| 大塚 朱紗 Ayasa OTSUKA | 163 | 65 | 1999/5/5 |
| 香川 メレ優愛ハヴィリ Mele Yua Havili KAGAWA | 171 | 75 | 2001/9/29 |
| 加藤 幸子 Sachiko KATO | 165 | 89 | 2000/2/19 |
| 北野 和子 Wako KITANO | 167 | 92 | 1999/9/8 |
| 公家 明日香 Asuka KUGE | 164 | 77 | 1994/9/22 |
| 向來 桜子 Sakurako KORAI | 168 | 74 | 2003/4/9 |
| 小島 晴菜 Haruna KOJIMA | 162 | 86 | 2001/3/5 |
| 佐藤 優奈 Yuna SATO | 170 | 76 | 1998/9/11 |
| 妹尾 安南 Anan SEO | 155 | 59 | 2001/7/16 |
| 谷口 琴美 Kotomi TANIGUCHI | 163 | 75 | 1995/4/10 |
| 津久井 萌 Moe TSUKUI | 153 | 53 | 2000/3/28 |
| 永井 彩乃 Ayano NAGAI | 168 | 92 | 1997/10/14 |
| 長田 いろは Iroha NAGATA | 168 | 70 | 1998/12/21 |
| 永田 虹歩 Nijiho NAGATA | 162 | 80 | 2000/12/6 |
| 西村 蒼空 Sora NISHIMURA | 167 | 68 | 2000/9/29 |
| 西村 澪 Mio NISHIMURA | 168 | 84 | 2002/11/29 |
| 畑田 桜子 Sakurako HATADA | 161 | 66 | 2003/5/8 |
| 弘津 悠 Haruka HIROTSU | 169 | 68 | 2000/10/29 |
| 古田 真菜 Mana FURUTA | 167 | 69 | 1997/11/16 |
| 町田 美陽 Miharu MACHIDA | 172 | 90 | 2004/5/26 |
| 峰 愛美 Manami MINE | 163 | 77 | 2003/9/11 |
| 安尾 琴乃 Kotono YASUO | 156 | 60 | 2001/10/2 |
| 吉村 乙華 Otoka YOSHIMURA | 174 | 83 | 2001/5/15 |
