Japan's Brave Blossoms have added five home matches to their schedule in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup in France beginning Sept. 8.
The Japan Rugby Football Union said Friday the men's national team will face an All Blacks XV — New Zealand's second team — once on July 8 at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground and again a week later at Egao Kenko Stadium in Kumamoto.
The Brave Blossoms, coached by former All Black Jamie Joseph, will then take on Samoa on July 22 at Sapporo Dome, Tonga on July 29 at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka, and Fiji on Aug. 5 at a venue to be determined.
"The confirmation of these five home matches is hugely exciting for both the team and our fans in Japan," Joseph said according to the JRFU website.
"They will form a massive part of our preparations ahead of the World Cup, providing four diverse and challenging opponents, that along with Italy, will give us a level of competition closely matching the intensity and quality we will face in France."
Samoa is grouped with Japan in World Cup Pool D.
Japan will start its full-fledged World Cup preparations in June after the domestic League One season ends. The team is also scheduled to play an away test against Italy on Aug. 26.