Langford to get second cap against Wales
Published on: 29/10/2026
Exeter Chiefs Women’s centre Sophie Langford will get her second cap for Japan as they play their second WXV Global Series game against Wales.
After making her international debut last weekend, the 22-year-old will get her second chance to pull on the Sakura 15 jersey as they run out at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on Saturday (KO 07:00 GMT).
This will give Langford another chance to come up against new club team-mate Maisie Davies who will start the game on the bench.
Sean Lynn, Wales head coach, said: “We have made the changes to reward the players who finished the job in Tokyo, and they deserve the opportunity to start for their country for our final test match of 2026.
“The players know our DNA is team first and competition for places drives standards and performances and will only help us improve and get better as a team.
“We found a way in the first test in Tokyo and the way the players problem-solved during the game was key for all the coaches. But we know we have to be much more accurate and produce a consistent eighty-minute performance to beat a resilient Japan side that we know will be hurting.
“We need to back up what we achieved in the first test and sign off the 11-week block we have been together and this WXV campaign on a high in Kumagaya.”
JAPAN
15 Komachi Imakugi
14 Honoka Tsunokawa
13 Sophie Akiko Langford
12 Uta Kataoka
11 Mele Yua Havili Kagawa
10 Sawa Harada
9 Moe Tsukui
1 Hinata Komaki
2 Moe Nagaoka
3 Wako Kitano
4 Masai Kawamura
5 Yuna Sato
6 Nami Asari
7 Nduka Jennifer
8 Savannah Bodman
Replacements:
16 Asuka Kuge
17 Manami Mine
18 Juka Fuji
19 Mio Nishimura
20 Sakurako Korai
21 Anan Seo
22 Chihiro Ito
23 Sora Nishimura
WALES
15 Lisa Neumann (Leicester Tigers, 55 caps)
14 Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester Hartpury, 17 caps)
13 Carys Cox (Ealing Trailfinders, 28 caps)
12 Courtney Keight (Sale Sharks, 36 caps)
11 Amy Williams (Brython Thunder, 3 caps)
10 Lleucu George (Gloucester Hartpury, 43 caps)
9 Seren Lockwood (Brython Thunder, 11 caps)
1 Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks, 57 caps)
2 Kelsey Jones (Sale Sharks, 60 caps)
3 Sisilia Tuipulotu (Harlequins, 39 caps)
4 Branwen Metcalfe (Brython Thunder, 9 caps)
5 Gwen Crabb (Brython Thunder, 45 caps)
6 Kate Williams (co-captain, Gloucester Hartpury, 29 caps)
7 Bethan Lewis (Bristol Bears, 67 caps)
8 Alex Callender (co-captain, Gloucester Hartpury, 50 caps)
Replacements:
16 Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning, 19 caps)
17 Maisie Davies (Exeter Chiefs, 20 caps)
18 Elan Jones (Brython Thunder, 2 caps)
19 Jorja Aiono (Gloucester Hartpury, 8 caps)
20 Georgia Evans (Saracens, 51 caps)
21 Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning, 20 caps)
22 Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears, 86 caps)
23 Jenna De Vera (Brython Thunder, 3 caps)
Written By:
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club
