Wales vs Japan: how to watch free, TV channels and UK kick-off time for Nations Championship opener in Cardiff

Wales vs Japan kicks off at 4.40pm GMT on Saturday 7 November, with live coverage on ITV1 and S4C as Steve Tandy’s side begin their November Nations Championship fixtures.

Principality Stadium hosts the first of three successive Saturday home matches for Wales. New Zealand visit the following weekend, before Australia arrive on 21 November.

Wales needed an 83rd-minute penalty from Jarrod Evans to beat Japan 24–23 in Cardiff last November. The teams return to the same ground with points in the inaugural Nations Championship at stake.

How to watch Wales vs Japan in the UK

Wales vs Japan is listed live on ITV1, with streaming through ITVX. Welsh-language coverage is available on S4C, with online viewing through S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer.

STV and STV Player are also listed for viewers in Scotland. The match is free-to-air, with no additional sports subscription or pay-per-view purchase required.

For English-language coverage online, select the live channel through ITVX. For Welsh-language coverage, use S4C Clic or find S4C through BBC iPlayer.

S4C’s broadcast agreement covers all Wales matches in the Nations Championship over the next four years, including the closing fixture on finals weekend.

Wales vs Japan kick-off time, date and venue

Detail	Information
Match	Wales vs Japan
Competition	Nations Championship, Round 4
Date	Saturday 7 November 2026
Venue	Principality Stadium, Cardiff
UK kick-off	4.40pm GMT
English-language television	ITV1; STV in Scotland
Welsh-language television	S4C
Streaming	ITVX, STV Player, S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer

The official Principality Stadium listing confirms the 4.40pm start. This is kick-off, rather than the beginning of television build-up.

What happened when Wales last hosted Japan?

Wales won 24–23 at Principality Stadium in November 2025, with Evans landing the decisive penalty after the match had passed 80 minutes.

That narrow victory was Tandy’s first as Wales head coach. Saturday offers another meeting with Eddie Jones’ side, almost a year after that late escape.

Japan began their Nations Championship campaign in July with a 27–10 victory over Italy, before losing 36–20 to Ireland and 42–15 to France.

The WRU’s look ahead to the Japan fixture sets out those results and the background to the Cardiff rematch.

Wales squad and selection ahead of Japan

Tandy named three uncapped players in his initial 39-man November squad, with Dewi Lake as captain. Aneurin Owen, Che Hope and Rhys Barratt were the newcomers.

The squad announcement establishes the wider group preparing for the autumn fixtures. The starting XV and replacements for Japan will be confirmed separately.

Read our Wales squad report for the initial selections and uncapped players.

Wales’ November fixtures and UK kick-off times

Fixture	Date	UK kick-off
Wales vs Japan	Saturday 7 November	4.40pm GMT
Wales vs New Zealand	Saturday 14 November	2.10pm GMT
Wales vs Australia	Saturday 21 November	8.10pm GMT

All three games take place at Principality Stadium, with a different kick-off time each weekend. The WRU confirms ITV and S4C coverage for the home programme.

How the Nations Championship continues in November

The competition links the July and November international windows. Wales’ match against Japan is their fourth round of the championship, rather than the start of a separate tournament.

After six rounds, teams from the two hemisphere tables face their corresponding opponents during finals weekend at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

Those matches take place from 27–29 November. Wales’ position after the Japan, New Zealand and Australia fixtures will determine their opponent in London.

Wales vs Japan: frequently asked questions

Is Wales vs Japan on free television?

Yes. ITV1 and S4C are showing the match, with STV also listed in Scotland.

Can I watch Wales vs Japan in Welsh?

Yes. S4C provides Welsh-language coverage, available online through S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer.

What time does Wales vs Japan start?

Kick-off is at 4.40pm GMT on Saturday 7 November at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.