Anything but a victory on Saturday will see Wales drop out of the top 12 in the world rankings – and Japan take their place. The nations are well-matched and very familiar with each other, having split a two-game series in the summer, which sets their blockbuster 2025 Autumn International meeting up beautifully. For both Steve Tandy and Eddie Jones, this stands to be the most important Test of the year.
In their current guises, neither Wales nor Japan have a hope of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in Australia, but a favorable draw may just be incentive enough for the WRU or JRFU to find enough funding for a proper rebuild. With Wales set to face New Zealand and South Africa in their last two Autumn Nations Series fixtures, and Japan up against Georgia, this is the last-chance saloon for the Welsh.
Responding to a record 28–52 defeat to Argentina with pleasant surprise that they managed to muster four tries serves as an illustration of just how far Wales have fallen, especially as the third of those scores resulted in skipper and standout player Jac Morgan dislocating his shoulder. Tandy resisted the temptation to throw a half-fit Louis Rees-Zammit straight into the lineup after his 18-month NFL adventure, but with positives so thin on the ground – the mistakes of Blair Murray and Ben Thomas didn’t help – he has decided to yield this time.
Ominously, Japan pushed Ireland hard last weekend. After falling 17-0 behind, a Kenji Sato try helped them pull things back to 17-10 at the interval, and things remained competitive until the last 13 minutes, during which they conceded three tries in quick succession. The Brave Blossoms’ zippy interplay always gets fans out of their seats, which has the potential to add insult to injury for Wales.
Read on below for a complete guide to where to watch Wales vs Japan live streams online, on TV and potentially for free.
Can I stream Wales vs Japan for free?
Rugby fans can watch Wales vs Japan free-of-charge on BBC iPlayer in the UK via the S4C channel.
Don’t forget, you need a valid UK postcode (e.g. SE1 7PB) to sign up.
Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch the Autumn International for free as if you were right at home. NordVPN is our top pick of the options.
Use a VPN to watch any Wales vs Japan stream
How to watch Wales vs Japan live streams in the US
Wales vs Japan will be live streamed on Peacock in the US.
Peacock TV subscriptions carrying live sport start from $10.99 per month. You can also stream Premier League football on the platform and every other Autumn International.
Outside the US for Wales vs Argentina? Use NordVPN to access your usual rugby streams.
How to watch Wales vs Japan live streams in the UK
Wales vs Japan is free-to-air in the UK. The game is being shown on Welsh-language station S4C, with live streaming available via BBC iPlayer.
All you need is an account, a TV license and a UK postcode (e.g.HA9 0WS). Sign up here!
Outside the UK? Use a VPN to gain access to all the content you’d normally stream at home.
The Wales vs Japan game is also being shown on TNT Sports 1, which is providing wall-to-wall coverage of the Autumn Internationals. You can get access by adding TNT Sports to your Sky, Virgin Media or EE TV package, or pay from £30.99 per month for a Discovery+ plan that includes the sports channels.
How to watch Wales vs Japan live streams in Australia
In Australia, this Wales vs Japan game – and all of the November internationals – will be on Stan Sport.
It costs $20 a month on top of a regular Stan subscription costing from $12 a month.
Away from Australia right now? Use a VPN to watch Stan Sport from abroad.
How to watch Wales vs Japan live streams in New Zealand
Sky Sport NZ is the Autumn Nations Series 2025 TV rights holder in New Zealand, and is therefore showing the Wales vs Japan game.
You can access Sky Sport through satellite TV or get a live stream with the Sky Sport Now subscription service starting at $29.99 per day or $54.99 per month.
Missing a game due to work commitments abroad? NordVPN will give you access to your home streaming service.
How to watch Wales vs Japan live streams in South Africa
Wales vs Japan in the Autumn Nations Series 2025 will be shown on subscription service SuperSport.
You’ll need to get a DStv access package to watch the Autumn Nations on SuperSport, with prices starting at R99 ($5.66) per month.
Abroad right now? Just use a VPN and tell your device that you’re back home and you’ll be good to go.
Wales vs Japan — Need to Know
When will Wales vs Japan start?
The 2025 Wales vs Japan rugby union Test is set to kick off at 5.40pm GMT local time at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, November 15. That’s 12.10pm ET / 9.10am PT in the US, and 4.10am AEDT in Australia.
What other Autumn Nations games are on this weekend?
The third weekend of the Autumn Nations Series is serving up four outstanding fixtures. None, however, will have the same repercussions as Wales vs Japan.
● Italy vs South Africa
● England vs New Zealand
● France vs Fiji
● Ireland vs Australia
● Scotland vs Argentina
Wales vs Japan recent games
Wales ended an 18-game losing streak against Japan in july, but the two-game series ended all-square.
● 2025 — Japan 22 – 31 Wales
● 2025 — Japan 24 – 19 Wales
● 2026 — Wales 33 – 30 Japan
● 2013 — Japan 22 – 31 Wales
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