Former Brave Blossoms lock Kitagawa named Sakura Fifteen head coach ahead of WXV Global Series

Toshizumi Kitagawa has been appointed head coach of Japan’s Sakura Fifteen, the national women’s rugby union team, ahead of the WXV Global Series. The 45-year-old former lock, who earned 43 caps for the Brave Blossoms between 2005 and 2013, takes over from Canadian coach Lesley McKenzie, who departed after Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

McKenzie’s tenure ended following a difficult World Cup campaign in England, where Japan were eliminated at the group stage after losses to Ireland and New Zealand in Pool C. They closed out the tournament with a 29-21 victory over Spain’s Las Leonas in York.

Kitagawa is no stranger to the Sakura Fifteen setup. He served as forwards coach during the 2025 Asia Rugby Women’s Championship before stepping up as interim head coach, guiding Japan to a seventh consecutive title in the competition. His appointment now becomes permanent as the team prepares for a demanding international schedule.

The former Toyota Verblitz and Hino Red Dolphins lock represented Japan at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, spending 15 years at Verblitz during his professional playing career before finishing at Hino, where he subsequently worked as an assistant coach from 2021 to 2023.

Japan’s WXV Global Series programme includes matches against Italy and Ireland in Europe in September, followed by two home Tests against Wales in October. The squad will also face Ireland in a fixture outside the WXV window. Kitagawa’s first assignment on home soil comes on 4 October, when Japan host Fiji at JAPAN BASE in Fukuoka, where the squad assembles for a training camp this week.

The coaching staff alongside Kitagawa comprises Yusuke Aoki as forwards coach and Keisuke Fujimori as attack coach.