Wales women aim to hold 11th place as they face Japan in Tokyo

Wales women play Japan in Tokyo on Saturday, and their target is simple: keep hold of 11th place in the world rankings.

The rankings are a points table for national teams, built from recent results. A loss in Tokyo would send Wales down to 13th, according to BBC Sport. A win would give them a useful cushion in a tight part of the table.

Wales have a recent record to build on. In September, at Cardiff Arms Park, they beat South Africa, then lost 26-24 to the USA Eagles in a match decided by a narrow margin. The two teams last met in 2024, when Wales won 19-10 in South Africa.

Japan have had a harder run. They lost 55-21 to Italy and were beaten twice by Ireland, 31-24 in the WXV Global Series and 43-19 in a further Test. A Test is a full international match, and the WXV Global Series is a set of women's Tests played across the autumn.

Japan have also made changes for the occasion. Savannah Bodman, an uncapped number eight, and Sophie Akiko Langford, an uncapped centre, start. "Uncapped" means a player has not yet made an official appearance for their country. Chihiro Ito, a fly-half who takes the ten shirt and is usually the team's main kicker and playmaker, is set to make her debut from the bench.

The match is part of a double-header marking the centenary of the Japan Rugby Football Union, the body that runs the sport in Japan. Wales play a second Test against Japan in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, on Saturday 31 October at 16:00 local time. Julianne Zussman has been appointed as referee for that game.

Wales head coach Sean Lynn has set a longer goal. He has said Wales want to be in the world's top six, a position they last held at the start of 2024. Lynn described the roadmap as leading to the 2029 World Cup, and said Wales must first qualify for it.

Saturday's kick-off in Tokyo is 18:30 local time, which is 10:30 UK time. Wales' Test is live on BBC iPlayer for viewers in the UK.