World Rugby Sets Japan 2019 Dates, Reveals Logo

(ATR) World Rugby has launched a logo and confirmed the dates of its 2019 flagship tournament in Japan.

Rugby World Cup 2019 will open on Sept. 20 in Tokyo, with the final taking place in Yokohama on Nov. 2.

The logo for the first Asian Rugby World Cup bears two of Japan’s famous symbols, the rising sun and Mount Fuji.

The announcement comes days before the 2015 tournament concludes. Holders New Zealand take on Australia at Twickenham in London.

"We couldn’t be more pleased with how England 2015 has succeeded. We believe it has succeeded at every level," said World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper.

"As we approach the conclusion of a wonderful and record-breaking Rugby World Cup in England, we start to look forward to doing it all over again in Japan four years from now," he said.

"It will be a truly unique Rugby World Cup, like none other that has gone before it. It will demonstrate the global nature of rugby and will give players, coaches, officials and spectators a special opportunity to be part of the sport's showpiece tournament in a new and exciting location.

"The Brave Blossoms, Japan's national team, have been one of the great stories from this year's tournament. With their combination of skill, speed, athleticism and determination, they have won many admirers and they have inspired a nation to follow our great sport."

He added: "All that bodes well for the next edition of Rugby World Cup. We want the Japanese people to fall in love with rugby so that not only will RWC 2019 be another successful chapter in the tournament's history but that it will leave a legacy of participation and passion that will last beyond the final whistle of that tournament."

Japan Rugby 2019 Chief Executive Akira Shimazu praised the 2015 tournament organisers and said his team had learned a lot from observing how the tournament was run in England.

"As we look forward to 2019, we will be capitalising on the excitement for rugby generated in Japan and around the world over the past few weeks," he said. "We want to attract rugby fans from every nation to Japan in 2019 and make the tournament a special occasion for the sport."

Alan Gilpin, head of RWC, said the plan was to hold at least two games at each of the 12 venues in Japan. The match schedule will be released in 2016 following a review of the England 2015 tournament."There’s a lot of work to do," Gilpin was quoted on World Rugby's website "We’ll have an opportunity to work through with our partners in Japan on the draw, the match schedule and the hosting arrangements for 2019."

Reported byMark Bisson

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