Wales overcome Japan in Tokyo to secure second WXV victory
Wales defeated Japan in Tokyo in the WXV on 24 October 2026 to claim their second win of the campaign; Tries: Lockwood 2, K Jones Con: Bell.
Wales have now claimed victory in all three Tests against Japan after a match played in swirling wind, rain and humidity between sides ranked 11th and 12th in the world. The conditions produced a scrappy first half that looked likely to finish scoreless until scrum-half Seren Lockwood’s 35th-minute snipe gave the visitors a 7-0 lead at the break.
Japan were reduced to 14 players early when flanker Nami Asari received a yellow card six minutes in, and Wales appeared to take immediate advantage when Kelsey Jones peeled off a five-metre driving lineout to touch down; the score was ruled out on review after lock Jorja Aiono was judged to have caused an obstruction. Japan responded with attacking phases that saw Freya Bell and Sisilia Tuipulotu combine to hold prop Wako Kitano up over the line.
Wales’ attack suffered from wayward kicks and handling errors in the first half, a disappointing return compared with the 74-point haul they produced across their previous two outings against South Africa and USA, but the breakthrough came five minutes before the interval. From a driving lineout Bell carried hard to the line, Lockwood was first to the breakdown and then exploited a gap in the defence, and Bell added the conversion to make it 7-0 at the break.
Japan began the second half with greater attacking intent and Wales started to miss tackles. The visitors were hit by the loss of centre Freya Bell, who was stretchered off with a serious-looking knee injury and replaced by Courtney Keight. Lleucu George was introduced before the hour mark and the reshuffle helped Wales regain territory; on 65 minutes Jones finished off a driving maul to give Wales breathing space.
Wales had a try ruled out later when replays showed Jones’ turnover in the build-up had come from an offside position, but Seren Lockwood secured her second try three minutes from time, finishing after George’s floating pass out wide. Wales pushed for a try bonus-point after Nami Yoshida was sin-binned, but ultimately settled for three tries and recorded their first clean sheet since beating Hong Kong 65-0 in November 2018.
Japan: Nishi; Tsunokawa, Langford, Kataoka, Nishimura; Tsukui (capt), Harada; Komaki, Nagaoka, Kitano, Kawamura, Sato, Asari, Korai, Bodman. Replacements: Nagata, Yoshida, Fuji, Yoshimura, Jennifer, Seo, Ito, Havili Kagawa. Sin bin: Asari (6 mins), Yoshida (76 mins).
Wales: Neumann; N Metcalfe, Cox, Bell, A Williams; Bevan, Lockwood; M Davies, K Jones, Tuipulotu, B Metcalfe, Aiono, K Williams (co-capt), Callender (co-capt), King. Replacements: Reardon, Pyrs, E Jones, Crabb, G Evans, B Lewis, George, Keight. Assistant referees: Sunny Lee (Hong Kong China) & Hibiki Ikeda (Japan). TMO: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong China).
The teams will meet again in Kumagaya City on Saturday, 31 October.