There’s now just under 50 days to go until the 2015 Rugby World Cup. As proud hosts of the 2019 tournament, local authorities in and around Japan’s host cities are studying the economic impact of the 2015 hosting as part of the benefits it can offer for the revitalization of regions.
And last month representatives from the 12 host cities in 2019 gathered together for the first time to share ideas and celebrate their success in making it through the selection process. “This is an opportunity to congratulate the 12 cities that were chosen in March to be hosts and for them to get together and start planning for a successful tournament,” said Koji Tokumasu, General Manager of Rugby World Cup 2019 Organising Committee.
The representatives hailed from prefectures spanning the length of Japan, from Sapporo in the far north to Kumamoto in the south.
“This is the first time everyone has been in the same place at the same time,” said Fujio Mitarai, President of the 2019 Organising committee. “I hope everyone remembers the rugby spirit of ‘all for one, one for all,’ and unites for one goal. The Rugby World Cup can be used as a foundation for people in Japan to participate in a sporting event and with the Tokyo Olympics the following year, we must make it a success.”
Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, reminded everyone of the economic benefits of hosting the world’s third biggest sporting event. “I have talked to a few people and they have told me one of the big aspects of the tournament is the time between games,” she said.
“That allows visitors to go out and spend time in the host cities and travel. That’s very unique, and we as a government will do all we can to support the host cities to make sure they have a successful tournament and get as much out of it as they can.”
In the 2015 tournament, training at Warwick School and Brighton College, Japan’s team will play their matches in Pool B:
19 September – v. South Africa (Brighton Community Stadium)
23 September – v. Scotland (Kingsholm, Gloucester)
3 October – v. Samoa (Stadium mk, Milton Keynes)
11 October – v. United States (Kingsholm, Gloucester)
The knockout stage matches and finals will take place at Twickenham Stadium in the London Borough of Richmond.
Finally, as well as the September fixture against South Africa and hosting a Japan team base, Brighton’s annual Japan Festival will feature ‘The Costume Games’ over the opening weekend of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the world’s first city-wide cosplay carnival.
