Japan v Wales Live: Kick-off time, team news and score updates

Wales take on Japan in Kitakyushu today, as they bid to finally end the 17-Test losing run that has stretched over nearly two years.

You'd have to go back to October 7 2023, against Georgia in the World Cup pool stages, for Wales' last victory at Test level. That's 637 days ago.

Against an inexperienced Brave Blossoms side, this should be the day that Wales end that lengthy wait.

However, with the heat and humidity meaning cooling breaks and a 20-minute half-time will be enforced, conditions aren't going to be easy for Matt Sherratt's side.

Defeat to Japan would see Wales fall behind their opponents in the rankings for the first time, slipping to 14th.

Kick-off is at 6am UK time and you can follow the match in our live blog below.

Japan: Takuro Matsunaga; Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Malo Tuitama; Seungsin Lee, Shinobu Fujiwara; Yota Kamimori, Mamoru Harada, Shuhei Takeuchi, Epineri Uluiviti, Warner Deans, Michael Leitch (c), Jack Cornelsen, Amato Fakatava.

Replacements: Hayate Era, Sena Kimura, Keijiro Tamefusa, Waisake Raratubua, Ben Gunter, Shuntaro Kitamura, Ichigo Nakakusu, Halatoa Vailea.

Wales: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Sam Costelow, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Keiron Assiratti, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Liam Belcher, Gareth Thomas, Archie Griffin, James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, ⁠Joe Roberts.

Referee: Damian Schneider

Live updates below: