Japan will play France for the first time since 2017 when they host Les Bleus in two matches in early July, the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) said in a statement on Monday.
The series for the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup will begin at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture on July 2, with the teams meeting again on July 9 at an unnamed venue, the JRFU said.
¡°On behalf of the JRFU and the entire Japanese rugby family, I would like to express our sincere delight that the French national team will tour Japan this summer,¡± said JRFU President Shigetaka Mori.
¡°Les Bleus are playing remarkably well in the Six Nations Championship and continue to develop a potent style of play, combining power and speed with their traditional flair.
¡°With France due to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023, they are emerging as strong contenders for their home tournament.¡±
Japan reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 World Cup on home soil but did not play in 2020 because of the COVID-19 outbreak, returning to action after 18 months against the British & Irish Lions in June 2021.
The Brave Blossoms won only one of their six matches last year, against Portugal.
¡°As a result of the global pandemic, Japanese rugby fans have missed out on regular test match rugby being played in Japan,¡± Mori said.
¡°This series is therefore an important opportunity for us to reconnect with our fans, and I am certain the rugby family in Japan will be looking forward to reliving the enthusiasm and excitement that they experienced during Rugby World Cup 2019.¡±
France were held to a 23-23 draw at home by Japan the last time the teams met in November 2017.
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