Japanese as well as international rugby fans will descend upon the different tournament venues between September and November 2019. Yokohama is playing host to some of the matches, including the final on November 2, and the semi-finals to be held on October 26-27, at the International Stadium Yokohama, a 72,000-spectator structure in the Kanagawa prefecture. This stadium also happens to be the biggest stadium in Japan.
Interestingly enough, the theme of this year’s Rugby World Cup is unity and this is the first time that the tournament is being held in Asia. The mission of this year’s edition is to make rugby an international sport and give it more visibility in Asia, as it has been traditionally associated with certain countries like Australia, New Zealand and England. As a result, this year’s tournament logo even features the symbol of the rising sun and Mt. Fuji.
The Rugby World Cup will be held between September 20 and November 2 and brings together 20 teams, hosted across 12 Japanese cities. Estimates suggest that the city of Yokohama itself will welcome about half a million spectators during the tournament. In addition to the stadium, there will also be different fan zones. This will give the general public a chance to watch the games , out in the open, and enjoy food and drinks. The Minato Mirai fan zone will be the most important one and will be buzzing with activity. Since it is at the heart of the city, it is a great neighbourhood to be able to highlight such a big event. The city is also working with inbound sports travel specialists, who are putting together some tour packages for rugby enthusiasts to enjoy the sporting event, clubbed with different city experiences. The city is also gearing up its transport infrastructure to be prepared for the large crowds that will descend upon the city. The stadium is located a short walk from the Shin Yokohama train station, which makes travelling very easy for tourists. The authorities have also enhanced the facilities at this stadium to make it more comfortable and enjoyable — little elements like more washrooms, more comfortable seating, etc.
Yokohama has a longstanding history with the game of rugby. Since it has always been such an international city, the English and Scottish expatriates who lived here, were the first to start playing rugby here. More specifically, it was the English teacher E. B. Clarke who introduced the game to students at the Keio University, leading to the formation of Japan’s first rugby club in 1899. The rest is history!
In news: Rugby world cup 2019
When the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) decided to host the Rugby World Cup 2019, in 2009, it became the organising body (host union) by conducting an organisation agreement with RWCL. In November 2010, JRFU set up the Rugby World Cup 2019 Organising Committee, which is responsible for making the necessary preparations and managing the tournament based on the organisation agreement. This organising committee makes all the necessary preparations for the tournament in close cooperation with the RWCL.
