International Tour – Japan vs Canada – ARN Guide

Canada resumes their 2026 schedule in Niigata on Saturday, where Japan plays host as part of their union’s 100 year anniversary campaign. While both sides travel to Osaka for the Pacific Nations Cup next week, this match is not part of the tournament. It’s a big challenge for the Maple Leafs, who haven’t beaten the Brave Blossoms in two decades and arrive without many of their top players.

FORM GUIDE

Current World Ranking: 12 (75.36 points)
2026-08-15 – Australia 56, Japan 17 (Townsville)
2026-08-08 – Japan 32, Australia 35 (Osaka)
2026-07-18 – Japan 15, France 42 (Tokyo)
2026-07-11 – Japan 20, Ireland 36 (Newcastle)
2026-07-04 – Japan 27, Italy 10 (Tokyo)

Current World Ranking: 24 (60.37 points)
2026-07-18 – Canada 23, Zimbabwe 19 (Winnipeg)
2026-07-11 – Canada 14, Portugal 38 (Edmonton)
2026-07-04 – Canada 42, Spain 42 (Edmonton)
2026-11-22 – Portugal 33, Canada 27 (Coimbra)
2026-11-15 – Georgia 38, Canada 17 (Batumi)

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

	IN	OUT
2	Mamoru Harada	Hayate Era
4	Jack Cornelsen	Warner Dearns
7	Kanji Shimokawa	Tiennan Costley
12	Yuya Hirose	Shunsuke Uenobo
14	Inoke Burua	Yoshitaka Yazaki

	IN	OUT
1	Sam Miller	Cali Martinez
2	Foster DeWitt	Andrew Quattrin
3	Kyle Steeves	Cole Keith
4	Daragh Doyle	Evan Olmstead
9	Jesse Kilgour	Jason Higgins
11	Liam James	Noah Flesch
12	Ben LeSage	Jacob Ince
13	Isaac Olson	Spencer Jones
15	Takoda McMullin	Peter Nelson

NOTES

• while the Canadians were once on even standing with Japan, their last victory over the Brave Blossoms was in May of 2005… since then it’s been two draws – the second in 2011 – and eight losses, including six consecutive defeats
• Eddie Jones will use the match as a tune-up ahead of next week’s collision with the USA… while world class lock and team captain Warner Dearns is absent, it’s otherwise a mostly first choice starting lineup
• there is one new name in the run-on side… Fijian winger Inoke Burua will make his full Japan debut, having previously lined up in a non-test match against the New Zealand Māori in June
• versatile forward Jack Cornelsen fills the second row vacancy, and there are recalls for hooker Mamoru Harada and openside flanker Kanji Shimokawa
• former Toulouse scrumhalf Naoto Saito assumes the captaincy, forming a playmaking partnership with impressive youngster Ryunosuke Ito… and Yuya Hirose returns from injury to start at center
• it’s a 6-2 split on the bench for the Brave Blossoms, with ex-Australia u20 lock Esei Ha’angana also an option in the back row… replacement tighthead prop Takumi Inaba is set for his test debut
• by contrast it’s a mix-and-match Canadian team, who have just a handful starters who would be considered first choice in a full-strength outfit… many of their top players are unavailable, largely due to club commitments overseas
• while the back row that featured in the win over Zimbabwe is intact, Izzak Kelly is the only tight five selection who started in July… there are first test starts for hooker Foster DeWitt, tighthead prop Kyle Steeves, and second row Daragh Doyle
• there is a surprise choice at scrumhalf, where 21-year-old Jesse Kilgour comes straight in for his first start in just his second test appearance… Kilgour came through the Pacific Pride program and has been playing amateur club rugby while working his way back from injury… 30-cap veteran Jason Higgins will begin the match among the reserves
• imposing three-quarter Isaac Olson is back from long-term injury to start in the midfield, and there is a first test start for 20-year-old winger Liam James… the latter is the son of long-time Canada and French Top 14 second row Mike James
• 31-year-old prop Bryce Worden is in line for his first cap as a replacement… he spent recent months playing in Australia’s Shute Shield competition… uncapped flyhalf or fullback Jamie Armstrong is included after featuring for the Senior Men’s Sevens side

PREDICTION

Sunny and somewhat breezy conditions are expected, but the weather will not be a significant factor. While the Brave Blossoms were ultimately second-best against the Wallabies, they nearly snatched an upset win at Osaka and will be boosted by the return to home soil. Canada have shown improvement over the past year and earned a much-needed win over the Sables in July, but this is a significant step up in opposition with a depleted lineup. Japan are heavy favorites in Niigata.

TEAMS

JAPAN
1 Takato Okabe, 2 Mamoru Harada, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 5 Harry Hockings, 6 Ben Gunter, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 8 Faulua Makisi, 9 Naoto Saito (capt.), 10 Ryunosuke Ito, 11 Haruto Kida, 12 Yuya Hirose, 13 Dylan Riley, 14 Inoke Burua, 15 Takuro Matsunaga

Replacements: 16 Kenji Sato, 17 Sojiro Otsuka, 18 Takumi Inaba, 19 Michael Stolberg, 20 Esei Ha’angana, 21 Tiennan Costley, 22 Kenta Fukuda, 23 Sam Greene

CANADA
1 Sam Miller, 2 Foster DeWitt, 3 Kyle Steeves, 4 Daragh Doyle, 5 Isaac Kelly, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Sion Perry, 8 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 9 Jesse Kilgour, 10 Cooper Coats, 11 Liam James, 12 Ben LeSage, 13 Isaac Olson, 14 Kyle Tremblay, 15 Takoda McMullin

Replacements: 16 Dewald Kotze, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Bryce Worden, 19 Barnaby Waddell, 20 Cody Nhanala, 21 Jason Higgins, 22 Spencer Jones, 23 Jamie Armstrong

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, September 5
Venue: Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata
Kickoff: 14:50 local (01:50 Eastern, Friday 22:50 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 81°F (27°C), wind N 17-26mph (28-42km/h)
Broadcasts: TSN+ (Canada), JSports (Japan)

OFFICIALS

Referee: Morgan White (Hong Kong)
Assistants: Jordan Way (Australia) & Francesco Cammisa (Hong Kong)
TMO: Matthew Rodden (Hong Kong)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (27):  Japan 17,  Canada 8, Draw 2
2025-08-30 – Japan 57, Canada 15 (Sendai)
2024-08-25 – Canada 28, Japan 55 (Vancouver)
2016-06-11 – Canada 22, Japan 26 (Vancouver)
2015-07-18 – Canada 6, Japan 20 (San Jose)
2014-06-07 – Canada 25, Japan 34 (Vancouver)
2013-06-19 – Japan 16, Canada 13 (Nagoya)
2011-09-27 – Canada 23, Japan 23 (Napier)
2009-11-21 – Japan 27, Canada 6 (Tokyo)
2009-11-25 – Japan 46, Canada 8 (Miyagi)
2007-09-25 – Canada 12, Japan 12 (Bordeaux)
2005-05-29 – Japan 10, Canada 15 (Tokyo)