Women’s rugby is more than just a sideshow – it is reshaping Japan’s weekend rugby culture
The foundations of Japanese rugby are no longer built on men’s League One alone. The All Japan Women’s Rugby Football Championship, the top domestic competition for 15-a-side women’s rugby, has rapidly raised its profile in recent years through double-headers with League One fixtures and official live streams on YouTube.
At the 11th edition of the tournament in 2025, Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix completed a remarkable hat-trick of titles, winning the championship for the third year in a row. The 12th edition, to be held in January–February 2026, has already been announced as a joint event with Round 5 of the League One 2025-26 season, meaning that the opportunities to watch women’s rugby at stadiums around Japan will only continue to grow.
All Japan Women’s Rugby Football Championship – the domestic pinnacle
The All Japan Women’s Rugby Football Championship is the highest-level 15-a-side women’s rugby competition in the country, organised by the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU). It brings together leading club teams, mainly based in the Kanto and Kansai regions, to compete for the title of “best in Japan”.
11th Championship (2025): Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix claim a three-peat
The 11th All Japan Women’s Rugby Football Championship was held from January to February 2025. In the final, Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix defeated PEARLS to secure their third consecutive national title.
| Date | Stage | Fixture | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 18 Jan 2025 | Semi-final | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix vs Kyushu/Nagato combined | Spears Edo-Riku Field (Tokyo) | 41–13 |
| Sun 19 Jan 2025 | Semi-final | PEARLS vs YOKOHAMA TKM | Mie Kotsu G Sports no Mori Suzuka | 34–24 |
| Sun 2 Feb 2025 | Final | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix vs PEARLS | Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium (Tokyo) | 13–5 (HT 10–0) |
In the final, Phoenix controlled the contest with their trademark tough defence and dominance in contact, then calmly closed out the match. The official records state clearly that they have now been crowned champions of Japan for a third straight year.
12th Championship (2026): to be held alongside League One Round 5
According to the JRFU, the 12th All Japan Women’s Championship is scheduled for 17 January (Sat) and 1 February (Sun) 2026. The tournament has two main objectives:
- Promoting the healthy development and wider recognition of women’s rugby.
- Enhancing performance with a view to the Japan women’s 15s and sevens national teams.
League One has also announced that two fixtures from Round 5 of the 2025-26 season will be staged as double-headers with the women’s semi-finals. Fans who come to watch top-level men’s rugby will be able to stay on and enjoy elite women’s matches at the same venue, on the same day.
“The women’s semi-finals of the All Japan Championship will be played on 18 and 19 January!”
Comments from PEARLS, who are aiming to reclaim the title after last year’s disappointment, can be found on the official X account: @RugbyPearls.
More players, more visibility – women’s rugby on the rise
Thanks to initiatives by the JRFU and League One, both the player base and the visibility of women’s rugby in Japan are steadily increasing.
- Official YouTube broadcasts of the women’s championship.
- Double-headers with League One fixtures, boosting attendances.
- Grassroots and development events run by female players.
- Active use of social media by women’s teams to share their activities.
The double-headers, in particular, have had a major impact. At the 2025 championship, many fans followed the pattern of “League One men’s match ⇒ women’s semi-final at the same venue”. Numerous comments on social media expressed surprise at the physicality and speed of the women’s game, and there is a growing sense that the atmosphere in Japanese rugby stadiums is changing.
Women’s rugby as a sport with huge growth potential
Globally, the number of women and girls playing rugby continues to rise. The women’s sevens at the Olympic Games and the Women’s Rugby World Cup are drawing more and more attention on the biggest stages.
In Japan, closer collaboration between the national women’s championship and League One has created a new reality in which future women’s internationals play in front of large crowds on the same weekend as top men’s fixtures. When we talk about the future of Japanese rugby, the role of the women’s game is no longer optional – it is essential.
