Evans' last-second penalty against Japan ends Wales' 10-match home losing streak

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Jarrod Evans' last-second penalty lifted Wales past Japan 24-23 and to its first home victory in more than two years on Saturday.

Japan was set to defeat Wales in Cardiff for the first time but ill discipline gifted Wales a last shot after the fulltime hooter that replacement back Evans landed from outside the 22 and close to the left touchline.

New Wales coach Steve Tandy, in charge of his second match, couldn't stand to watch Evans' attempt; he stood in the hallway behind the coaches' box in the Principality Stadium.

“I could see him take the kick but not the posts,” Tandy said. "I was thinking, ‘Oh my god.’

“I wanted a better performance than we did last week, I don't think we got that. I love working with this group, they are class to work with. I know there's inexperience in certain parts but we do expect more.”

The result ended Wales' record 10-match losing streak at home dating to August 2023. Wales also beat Japan in July in Kobe to end an 18-test losing streak, the longest in men's tier one history.

Asked about the end of the game, Japan coach Eddie Jones said: “I wanted to kill someone. No, I'm only joking. It's tough to lose in the last five minutes. You need to handle the pressure and we didn't.”

Wales will retain its No. 12 world ranking and Japan No. 13, meaning at the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw next month Japan should get a tougher pool with two heavyweight teams and a harder road to make the playoffs in Australia.

Wales was a 2023 World Cup quarterfinalist but an indicator of its steep decline was having won all five previous home contests with Japan by an average of 50 points.

On Saturday, the lead changed hands six times in the second half.

Wales flyhalf Dan Edwards converted his own soft try to start the match and Kippei Ishida replied for Japan.

Wales couldn't take advantage of yellow cards against Japan forwards Epineri Uluiviti and Faulua Makisi, and reached halftime minus winger Josh Adams, who smashed Dylan Riley at the bottom of a ruck. Adams' yellow card was upgraded to a 20-minute red card.

Seungsin Lee broke the 7-7 halftime deadlock with a penalty to start the see-sawing second spell.

Louis Rees-Zammit's 15th test try in his first start since the 2023 World Cup gave Wales its first lead in the 50th minute.

Makisi's try put Japan back in front, then Nick Tompkins, on the field for only a minute, crashed over to send Wales ahead.

Lee's third penalty put Japan on top again but they unravelled with seconds left in regulation.

Replacement lock Harry Hockings' yellow card on debut gave Wales the field position for one last desperate attack, and a no-arms tackle handed Evans his penalty shot.

“The boys showed great composure to set up the chance for me to win it,” Evans told broadcaster TNT Sports. “That kick is why I do all the repetitions in training. It is a brilliant feeling.”

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Japan's Harry Hockings, left, and Wales' Alex Mann, center, battle for the ball during the rugby union Nations Series match between Wales and Japan at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

Wales' Dan Edwards on his way to scoring their side's first goal of the game during the rugby union Nations Series match between Wales and Japan at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

Wales' Nick Tompkins, center, celebrates with a teammate after scoring a try during the rugby union Nations Series match between Wales and Japan at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

Wales' Jarrod Evans, 2nd right, celebrates after the final whistle of the rugby union Nations Series match between Wales and Japan at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday presented medals to the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees during an event in the Oval Office, hailing the slate of artists he had a hand in choosing as “perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class” ever assembled.

This year's recipients are actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the rock band Kiss and actor-singer Michael Crawford.

Trump ignored the Kennedy Center and its premier awards program during his first term as president. But the Republican instituted a series of changes since returning to office in January, most notably ousting its board of trustees and replacing them with GOP supporters who voted him in as chairman.

Trump also has criticized the center's programming and its physical appearance, and vowed to overhaul both.

The president placed around each honoree's neck a new medal that was designed, created and donated by jeweler Tiffany & Co., according to the Kennedy Center and Trump.

It's a gold disc etched on one side with the Kennedy Center's image and rainbow colors. The honoree's name appears on the reverse side with the date of the ceremony. The medallion hangs from a navy blue ribbon and replaces a large rainbow ribbon decorated with three gold plates that rested on the honoree's shoulders and chest.

Songs by honorees Gaynor and Kiss played in the Rose Garden just outside the Oval Office as members of the White House press corps waited nearby to be admitted.

The president said in August that he was “about 98% involved” in choosing the 2025 honorees when he personally announced them at the Kennedy Center, the first slate chosen under his leadership. The honorees traditionally had been announced by press release.

It was unclear how they were chosen. Before Trump, it fell to a bipartisan selection committee.

Later Saturday, after the Oval Office event, Trump was scheduled to attend an annual State Department dinner for the honorees. In years past, the honorees would receive their medallions at the dinner but Trump has moved the ceremony to the White House.

Meanwhile, the glitzy Kennedy Center Honors program and its series of tribute performances for each recipient is set to be taped on Sunday at the performing arts center for broadcast later in December on CBS and Paramount+. Trump is to attend the program for the first time as president, accompanied by his wife, first lady Melania Trump.

The president said in August that he would host the show, but the White House has not characterized his level of participation. Presidents traditionally attend the program and sit with the honorees in the audience. None has ever served as host.

“I’ve been asked to host. I said, ‘I’m the president of the United States. Are you fools asking me to do that?'” Trump said back then. “And then Susie Wiles said to me, ‘Sir, I’d like you to host.' I said, OK, Susie, I’ll do it,” Trump said, referring to his White House chief of staff.

Trump spent several hours at the Kennedy Center on Friday. He participated in the FIFA World Cup draw for 2026 and accepted its inaugural peace prize. Trump also met in a group with the leaders of Canada and Mexico.

President Donald Trump, center, speaks as he presents Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor and Michael Crawford with their Kennedy Center Honors medals in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump, left, presents Michael Crawford with his Kennedy Center Honors medal in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump, left, speaks as he presents Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor and Michael Crawford with their Kennedy Center Honors medals in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump, left, presents George Strait with his Kennedy Center Honors medal in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

FILE - The Hall of Nations at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Nov. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, file)

Kiss band member Gene Simmons speaks to members of the media at the White House, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

President Donald Trump speaks before a concert by Andrea Bocelli in the East Room of the White House walking towards the East Room, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)