Wales Begin Home Run Against Japan as Nations Championship Resumes
Wales host Japan on Saturday in the Nations Championship, starting a run of three home matches that also includes New Zealand and Australia. Steve Tandy’s side enter the autumn series with one win and two defeats in the tournament’s opening games, and the coach says Wales want to finish as high as possible.
Wales host Japan in Cardiff on Saturday, November 7, as the Nations Championship resumes and a pivotal month begins for Welsh rugby. Wales rugby today opens a three-match home run.
Steve Tandy’s side enter the next phase with one win and two defeats from the tournament’s opening games in July. New Zealand and Australia are next on the Cardiff schedule, before the 12 teams meet at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham for a fourth round and a three-day finals weekend.
Japan are a familiar opponent. The teams meet for the fourth time in 16 months, and Wales have won two of their previous three encounters since July 2025.
The last of those Welsh victories came in Cardiff a year ago, giving head coach Tandy his first Test win. Wales could meet Japan again at Twickenham later in the month, depending on the tournament’s final pairings.
Tandy has won three of his 12 internationals in charge and lost nine. Wales also beat the Barbarians in an uncapped match. The team is ranked 10th in the world, with its three Test wins coming against Fiji, Italy and Japan, ranked ninth, 11th and 12th respectively.
“We're probably on par with where I'd like us to be but we want to kick on faster than we have done,” Tandy said.
He pointed to the team’s recent record as evidence of progress: Wales had won one of 26 matches 12 months ago, he said, and have since recorded four victories in 13 matches.
Tandy has not set a target for the number of autumn wins. He said the final Nations Championship position matters, while stressing that performance is the part his team can control.
“We understand we're going to have to hit the ground running quickly,” Tandy said.
Captain Dewi Lake said Wales are in the best state he can remember heading into a campaign. The Japan match carries immediate pressure: a home defeat would leave Wales facing a failed autumn campaign after one weekend, the report said.
Tandy selected 12 players from English clubs in his 23-man squad, a record, with nine in the starting XV, including six forwards. Nicky Smith, Jac Morgan, Aaron Wainwright and Lake are among the starters whose games have improved since moving to English clubs.
Max Llewellyn and Eddie James will form Tandy’s sixth center partnership in 13 internationals. He said selection may change across four consecutive major Tests because of rotation, injuries or the chance to bring in players in specific positions.
