The defending champions New Zealand take on Japan in their second match of the Pool C clash in the Women’s Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2025 at Exeter.
The Black Ferns began their campaign on a strong note beating Spain 54-8 at York and sit first in Pool C with a 46-point goal difference.
The six-time RWC winners have met Japan only once before, cruising to a 95-12 victory in 2022. A win here would seal their spot in the quarterfinals as they look to add a seventh world title to their cabinet.
On the other hand, Japan are ranked 11th in the world and have never won a title in RWC history. Their best placed finish came during the 1994 World Cup where they reached the quarterfinals.
Interestingly, a quirky stat shows no team has ever gone on to become champions when pooled together with Japan. That works against favorites New Zealand. The Sakura Fifteen are also an experienced outfit with a majority of players holding atleast 10 international caps.
The Sporting News looks at the key fixture details and how to follow the matches.
New Zealand vs. Japan Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 live stream, TV channel
Free-to-air channel: 9Gem
Live stream: Stan Sport, 9Now
The New Zealand vs. Japan Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 match will be shown on the free-to-air channel via 9Gem and can be streamed on Stan Sport.
What time does New Zealand vs. Japan Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 kick off?
The New Zealand vs. Spain Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 clash takes place at the Sandy Park in Exeter, England and kicks off on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 2:00 p.m. local time (BST)
Here's how that time translates across Australia:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Sun, Aug. 31 | 11:00 p.m. |
| Australian Central Standard Time | Sun, Aug. 31 | 10:30 p.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Sun, Aug. 31 | 9:00 p.m. |
Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 full schedule
(All times in AEST)
Saturday, August 23
- England 69 def. United States 7 at Sunderland (4:30 a.m.)
Saturday, August 23
- Australia 73 def. Samoa 0 at Salford (9:00 p.m.)
- Scotland 38 def. Wales 8 at Salford (11:45 p.m.)
Sunday, August 24
- Canada 65 def. Fiji 7 at York (2:30 a.m.)
- France 24 def. Italy 0 at Exeter (5:15 a.m.)
- Ireland 42 def. Japan 14 at Northampton (9:00 p.m.)
- South Africa 66 def. Brazil 6 at Northampton (11:45 p.m.)
Monday, August 25
- New Zealand 54 def. Spain 8 at York (2:30 a.m.)
Saturday, August 30
- Canada vs. Wales at Salford (9:00 p.m.)
- Scotland vs. Fiji at Salford (11:45 p.m.)
Sunday, August 31
- England vs. Samoa at Northampton (2:00 a.m.)
- United States vs. Australia at York (4:30 a.m.)
- Ireland vs. Spain at Northampton (9:00 p.m.)
- New Zealand vs. Japan at Exeter (11:00 p.m.)
Monday, September 1
- Italy vs. South Africa at York (12:30 a.m.)
- France vs. Brazil at Exeter (1:45 a.m.)
Saturday, September 6
- United States vs. Samoa at York (10:30 a.m.)
- Canada vs. Scotland at Exeter (9:00 p.m.)
- Wales vs. Fiji at Exeter (11:45 p.m.)
Sunday, September 7
- England vs. Australia at Brighton (2:00 a.m.)
- Japan vs. Spain at York (9:00 p.m.)
- New Zealand vs. Ireland at Brighton (11:45 p.m.)
- Italy vs. Brazil at Northampton (11:00 p.m.)
Monday, September 8
- France vs. South Africa at Northampton (1:45 a.m.)