# 2022 France rugby union tour of Japan

In July 2022, France played a two-test series against Japan as part of the 2022 mid-year rugby union tests. The first test was played at Toyota Stadium in Aichi on 2 July, followed by the second test at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on 9 July.
Coming into the series, France were ranked in second place in the World Rugby Rankings, while Japan sat eight places below in tenth. The two nations last faced each other in a test match during 2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, which ended up in a 23-23 draw.

## Fixtures

| Date | Venue | Home | Score | Away |
| 2 July 2022 | Toyota Stadium, Toyota | Japan | 23–42 | France |
| 9 July 2022 | Japan National Stadium, Tokyo | Japan | 15–20 | France |

## Squads
### France

Among the starting 15 French players, 2 of them earned their first caps and 4 more had single-digit caps. French coach intended to give test experience to the fringe players.
Notes: $^1$ On 23 June 2022, Dorian Aldegheri withdrew from the squad following a thigh injury, while Aymeric Luc and Max Spring were on standby, being COVID-19 positive like assistant coaches Shaun Edwards and Laurent Labit. On 25 June 2022, Luc and Spring tested negative and joined the rest of the team in Japan.
Head coach: Fabien Galthié
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Pierre Bourgarit | Hooker | (1997-09-12) 12 September 1997 (age 27) | 5 | La Rochelle |
| Peato Mauvaka | Hooker | (1997-01-10) 10 January 1997 (age 27) | 14 | Toulouse |
| Christopher Tolofua | Hooker | (1993-12-31) 31 December 1993 (age 30) | 7 | Toulon |
| Dorian Aldegheri$^1$ | Prop | (1993-08-04) 4 August 1993 (age 31) | 8 | Toulouse |
| Demba Bamba | Prop | (1998-03-17) 17 March 1998 (age 26) | 23 | Lyon |
| Sipili Falatea | Prop | (1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 (age 27) | 2 | Clermont |
| Jean-Baptiste Gros | Prop | (1999-05-29) 29 May 1999 (age 25) | 19 | Toulon |
| Thomas Laclayat | Prop | (1997-10-02) 2 October 1997 (age 27) | 0 | Oyonnax |
| Matis Perchaud | Prop | (2002-09-17) 17 September 2002 (age 22) | 0 | Bayonne |
| Dany Priso | Prop | (1994-01-02) 2 January 1994 (age 30) | 14 | La Rochelle |
| Thibaud Flament | Lock | (1997-04-29) 29 April 1997 (age 27) | 7 | Toulouse |
| Thomas Jolmès | Lock | (1995-10-08) 8 October 1995 (age 28) | 0 | Bordeaux |
| Thomas Lavault | Lock | (1999-05-03) 3 May 1999 (age 25) | 0 | La Rochelle |
| Rémi Picquette | Lock | (1995-02-23) 23 February 1995 (age 29) | 0 | La Rochelle |
| Swan Rebbadj | Lock | (1995-01-15) 15 January 1995 (age 29) | 3 | Toulon |
| Dylan Cretin | Back row | (1997-05-04) 4 May 1997 (age 27) | 18 | Lyon |
| Ibrahim Diallo | Back row | (1998-01-23) 23 January 1998 (age 26) | 1 | Racing 92 |
| Matthias Haddad | Back row | (2001-03-10) 10 March 2001 (age 23) | 0 | La Rochelle |
| Sekou Macalou | Back row | (1995-04-20) 20 April 1995 (age 29) | 7 | Stade Français |
| Charles Ollivon (c) | Back row | (1993-05-11) 11 May 1993 (age 31) | 23 | Toulon |
| Yoan Tanga | Back row | (1996-11-29) 29 November 1996 (age 27) | 0 | Racing 92 |
| Selevasio Tolofua | Back row | (1997-05-31) 31 May 1997 (age 27) | 1 | Toulouse |
| Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer | Back row | (1997-06-13) 13 June 1997 (age 27) | 0 | Bordeaux |
| Baptiste Couilloud | Scrum-half | (1997-07-22) 22 July 1997 (age 27) | 8 | Lyon |
| Nolann Le Garrec | Scrum-half | (2002-05-14) 14 May 2002 (age 22) | 0 | Racing 92 |
| Maxime Lucu | Scrum-half | (1993-01-12) 12 January 1993 (age 31) | 7 | Bordeaux |
| Louis Carbonel | Fly-half | (1999-02-04) 4 February 1999 (age 25) | 5 | Toulon |
| Antoine Hastoy | Fly-half | (1997-06-04) 4 June 1997 (age 27) | 1 | Pau |
| Matthieu Jalibert | Fly-half | (1998-11-06) 6 November 1998 (age 25) | 15 | Bordeaux |
| Jules Favre | Centre | (1999-03-22) 22 March 1999 (age 25) | 0 | La Rochelle |
| Louis Le Brun | Centre | (2002-02-22) 22 February 2002 (age 22) | 0 | Castres |
| Yoram Moefana | Centre | (2000-07-18) 18 July 2000 (age 24) | 6 | Bordeaux |
| Virimi Vakatawa | Centre | (1992-05-01) 1 May 1992 (age 32) | 30 | Racing 92 |
| Tani Vili | Centre | (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 23) | 0 | Clermont |
| Rémy Baget | Wing | (1997-07-27) 27 July 1997 (age 27) | 0 | Bayonne |
| Matthis Lebel | Wing | (1999-03-25) 25 March 1999 (age 25) | 2 | Toulouse |
| Damian Penaud | Wing | (1996-09-25) 25 September 1996 (age 28) | 32 | Clermont |
| Enzo Reybier | Wing | (2002-04-04) 4 April 2002 (age 22) | 0 | Oyonnax |
| Romain Buros | Fullback | (1997-07-31) 31 July 1997 (age 27) | 0 | Bordeaux |
| Melvyn Jaminet | Fullback | (1999-06-30) 30 June 1999 (age 25) | 11 | Perpignan |
| Aymeric Luc$^1$ | Fullback | (1997-10-14) 14 October 1997 (age 26) | 0 | Toulon |
| Max Spring$^1$ | Fullback | (2001-03-15) 15 March 2001 (age 23) | 0 | Racing 92 |

### Japan

On 31 May, a 34-man squad was named for Japan's 2-test series against Uruguay and their 2-test series against France.
On 7 June, Yutaka Nagare withdrew from the squad due to injury and Toshiya Takahashi was called up as his replacement.
On 17 June, Craig Millar withdrew from the squad due to injury and Shogo Miura was called up as his replacement. Also called up were, Takayasu Tsuji, Wimpie van der Walt and Tevita Tatafu.
On 27 June, Kaito Shigeno joined up with the squad ahead of Japan's 2-test series against France replacing Toshiya Takahashi and Amanaki Saumaki also withdrew due to injury.
* Head Coach: Jamie Joseph
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Daigo Hashimoto | Hooker | (1994-01-28) 28 January 1994 (age 30) | 2 | Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo |
| Shota Horie | Hooker | (1986-01-21) 21 January 1986 (age 38) | 67 | Saitama Wild Knights |
| Atsushi Sakate | Hooker | (1993-06-21) 21 June 1993 (age 31) | 28 | Saitama Wild Knights |
| Asaeli Ai Valu | Prop | (1989-05-07) 7 May 1989 (age 35) | 21 | Saitama Wild Knights |
| Keita Inagaki | Prop | (1990-06-02) 2 June 1990 (age 34) | 40 | Saitama Wild Knights |
| Shinnosuke Kakinaga | Prop | (1991-12-19) 19 December 1991 (age 32) | 20 | Tokyo Sungoliath |
| Yusuke Kizu | Prop | (1995-03-12) 12 March 1995 (age 29) | 4 | Toyota Verblitz |
| Shogo Miura | Prop | (1995-06-08) 8 June 1995 (age 29) | 9 | Toyota Verblitz |
| Yukio Morikawa | Prop | (1993-02-06) 6 February 1993 (age 31) | 0 | Tokyo Sungoliath |
| Warner Dearns | Lock | (2002-04-11) 11 April 2002 (age 22) | 2 | Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo |
| Takayasu Tsuji | Lock | (1995-10-28) 28 October 1995 (age 28) | 0 | Tokyo Sungoliath |
| Wimpie van der Walt | Lock | (1989-01-06) 6 January 1989 (age 35) | 19 | NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka |
| Sanaila Waqa | Lock | (1995-07-17) 17 July 1995 (age 29) | 1 | Hanazono Kintetsu Liners |
| Jack Cornelsen | Back row | (1994-10-13) 13 October 1994 (age 29) | 7 | Saitama Wild Knights |
| Masato Furukawa | Back row | (1996-12-06) 6 December 1996 (age 27) | 3 | Toyota Verblitz |
| Ben Gunter | Back row | (1997-10-24) 24 October 1997 (age 26) | 3 | Saitama Wild Knights |
| Lappies Labuschagné | Back row | (1989-01-11) 11 January 1989 (age 35) | 13 | Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay |
| Michael Leitch | Back row | (1988-10-07) 7 October 1988 (age 35) | 73 | Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo |
| Faulua Makisi | Back row | (1997-01-20) 20 January 1997 (age 27) | 3 | Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay |
| Tevita Tatafu | Back row | (1996-01-02) 2 January 1996 (age 28) | 10 | Tokyo Sungoliath |
| Daiki Nakajima | Scrum-half | (1996-03-25) 25 March 1996 (age 28) | 3 | Kobelco Kobe Steelers |
| Naoto Saito | Scrum-half | (1997-08-26) 26 August 1997 (age 27) | 7 | Tokyo Sungoliath |
| Kaito Shigeno | Scrum-half | (1990-11-21) 21 November 1990 (age 33) | 14 | Toyota Verblitz |
| Hayata Nakao | Fly-half | (1995-01-20) 20 January 1995 (age 29) | 0 | Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo |
| Takuya Yamasawa | Fly-half | (1994-09-21) 21 September 1994 (age 30) | 4 | Saitama Wild Knights |
| Lee Seung-sin | Fly-half | (2001-01-13) 13 January 2001 (age 23) | 1 | Kobelco Kobe Steelers |
| Yusuke Kajimura | Centre | (1995-09-13) 13 September 1995 (age 29) | 2 | Yokohama Canon Eagles |
| Shogo Nakano | Centre | (1997-06-11) 11 June 1997 (age 27) | 3 | Tokyo Sungoliath |
| Dylan Riley | Centre | (1997-05-02) 2 May 1997 (age 27) | 5 | Saitama Wild Knights |
| Siosaia Fifita | Wing | (1998-12-20) 20 December 1998 (age 25) | 7 | Hanazono Kintetsu Liners |
| Jone Naikabula | Wing | (1994-03-12) 12 March 1994 (age 30) | 0 | Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo |
| Taichi Takahashi | Wing | (1996-05-24) 24 May 1996 (age 28) | 0 | Toyota Verblitz |
| Gerhard van den Heever | Wing | (1989-04-13) 13 April 1989 (age 35) | 1 | Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay |
| Rakuhei Yamashita | Wing | (1991-01-30) 30 January 1991 (age 33) | 0 | Kobelco Kobe Steelers |
| Ryuji Noguchi | Fullback | (1995-07-15) 15 July 1995 (age 29) | 14 | Saitama Wild Knights |
| Ryohei Yamanaka | Fullback | (1988-06-22) 22 June 1988 (age 36) | 22 | Kobelco Kobe Steelers |

## Matches
### First test

* 2 July 2022 15:00 JST (UTC+09)
| Japan | 23–42 | France |
| Try: Tatafu 13' c Fifita 80+1' c Con: Shigeno (1/1) 14' Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 80+2' Pen: Shigeno (1/1) 14' Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 26', 54' | | Try: Penaud (2) 3' c, 58' c Lebel 43' c Moefana 61' m Bourgarit 69' c Con: Jaminet (4/5) 4', 45', 59', 70' Pen: Jaminet (3/3) 18', 29', 54' |
* Toyota Stadium, Toyota Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Team details :
| FB | 15 | Ryohei Yamanaka |
| RW | 14 | Gerhard van den Heever | 51' |
| OC | 13 | Dylan Riley |
| IC | 12 | Shogo Nakano | 63' |
| LW | 11 | Siosaia Fifita |
| FH | 10 | Takuya Yamasawa |
| SH | 9 | Kaito Shigeno | 51' |
| N8 | 8 | Tevita Tatafu (c) | 51' |
| BF | 7 | Ben Gunter |
| OF | 6 | Michael Leitch |
| RL | 5 | Jack Cornelsen |
| LL | 4 | Wimpie van der Walt | 59' |
| TP | 3 | Asaeli Ai Valu | 70' |
| HK | 2 | Atsushi Sakate | 70' |
| LP | 1 | Keita Inagaki | 51' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Daigo Hashimoto | 70' |
| PR | 17 | Yukio Morikawa | 51' |
| PR | 18 | Shinnosuke Kakinaga | 70' |
| LK | 19 | Warner Dearns | 59' |
| FL | 20 | Faulua Makisi | 51' |
| SH | 21 | Daiki Nakajima | 51' |
| FH | 22 | Lee Seung-sin | 63' |
| WG | 23 | Taichi Takahashi | 51' |
| Coach: ||
| Jamie Joseph ||
| FB | 15 | Melvyn Jaminet |
| RW | 14 | Damian Penaud |
| OC | 13 | Virimi Vakatawa | 63' |
| IC | 12 | Yoram Moefana |
| LW | 11 | Matthis Lebel |
| FH | 10 | Matthieu Jalibert | 70' |
| SH | 9 | Maxime Lucu | 59' |
| N8 | 8 | Yoan Tanga | 63' |
| OF | 7 | Dylan Cretin |
| BF | 6 | Charles Ollivon (c) |
| RL | 5 | Thomas Jolmès | 44' |
| LL | 4 | Thibaud Flament |
| TP | 3 | Demba Bamba | 47' |
| HK | 2 | Peato Mauvaka | 50' 73' |
| LP | 1 | Jean-Baptiste Gros | 47' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Pierre Bourgarit | 50' 73' |
| PR | 17 | Dany Priso | 47' |
| PR | 18 | Sipili Falatea | 47' |
| LK | 19 | Thomas Lavault | 44' |
| FL | 20 | Selevasio Tolofua | 63' |
| FL | 21 | Sekou Macalou | 63' |
| SH | 22 | Baptiste Couilloud | 59' |
| FH | 23 | Antoine Hastoy | 70' |
| Coach: ||
| Fabien Galthié ||
* Assistant referees:
* Chris Busby (Ireland)
* Shuhei Kubo (Japan) (Replaced Mike Adamson 2 days out from the game)
* Television match official:
* Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Notes:
* Thomas Jolmès, Yoan Tanga and Thomas Lavault (France) made their international debuts.
* France winning-streak of 9 consecutive test matches is their best series since 1937.

### Second test

* 9 July 2022 14:50 JST (UTC+09)
| Japan | 15–20 | France |
| Try: Yamanaka (2) 12' m, 40' c Con: Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 40+1' Pen: Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 19' | | Try: Lebel 9' c Couilloud 71' c Con: Lucu (1/1) 10' Jalibert (1/1) 72' Pen: Lucu (1/1) 44' Jalibert (1/1) 61' |
* National Stadium, Tokyo Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Team details :
| FB | 15 | Ryohei Yamanaka |
| RW | 14 | Gerhard van den Heever |
| OC | 13 | Dylan Riley |
| IC | 12 | Shogo Nakano | 58' |
| LW | 11 | Siosaia Fifita |
| FH | 10 | Lee Seung-sin | 65' |
| SH | 9 | Naoto Saito | 65' |
| N8 | 8 | Jack Cornelsen |
| BF | 7 | Ben Gunter |
| OF | 6 | Michael Leitch |
| RL | 5 | Sanaila Waqa | 57' |
| LL | 4 | Warner Dearns | 67' |
| TP | 3 | Asaeli Ai Valu | 61' |
| HK | 2 | Atsushi Sakate (c) | 58' |
| LP | 1 | Keita Inagaki |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Shota Horie | 58' |
| PR | 17 | Yukio Morikawa |
| PR | 18 | Yusuke Kizu | 61' |
| LK | 19 | Takayasu Tsuji | 67' |
| FL | 20 | Tevita Tatafu | 57' |
| SH | 21 | Kaito Shigeno | 65' |
| FH | 22 | Yu Tamura | 65' |
| CE | 23 | Shane Gates | 58' |
| Coach: ||
| Jamie Joseph ||
| FB | 15 | Max Spring |
| RW | 14 | Damian Penaud | 64' |
| OC | 13 | Virimi Vakatawa |
| IC | 12 | Yoram Moefana |
| LW | 11 | Matthis Lebel |
| FH | 10 | Matthieu Jalibert |
| SH | 9 | Maxime Lucu | 50' |
| N8 | 8 | Yoan Tanga |
| OF | 7 | Charles Ollivon (c) |
| BF | 6 | Dylan Cretin | 43' |
| RL | 5 | Thomas Jolmès | 43' |
| LL | 4 | Thibaud Flament |
| TP | 3 | Demba Bamba | 46' |
| HK | 2 | Peato Mauvaka | 43' |
| LP | 1 | Jean-Baptiste Gros | 46' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Pierre Bourgarit | 43' |
| PR | 17 | Dany Priso | 46' |
| PR | 18 | Sipili Falatea | 46' |
| LK | 19 | Thomas Lavault | 43' |
| FL | 20 | Ibrahim Diallo | 43' |
| FL | 21 | Sekou Macalou | 64' |
| SH | 22 | Baptiste Couilloud | 50' |
| FH | 23 | Antoine Hastoy |
| Coach: ||
| Fabien Galthié ||
* Assistant referees:
* Frank Murphy (Ireland)
* Chris Busby (Ireland)
* Television match official:
* Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Notes:
* Max Spring (France) made his international debut.
* France equals his record winning streak of 10 consecutive international test matches.

## Climatic conditions

The hot weather had been a major concern. At kick off of the first match, it recorded 34.5°C in Toyota. 24 hours before the first match, Toyota city recorded a historic high 39.8°C. As a result, three water breaks were put in place during each half of the match. Just after kick off of the second match, it recorded 31.5°C in Tokyo. Water breaks were also in place.

## Condolences to Shinzo Abe

Before the second match, the 57,000 crowd observed a minute's silence for the assassination of Shinzo Abe. After the match, French captain Charles Ollivon offered a French jersey with the name "Abe Shinzo" printed. Abe was a keen supporter of Japanese rugby. He visited the Japan dressing room during the 2019 Rugby World Cup and invited the team to the prime minister's office.