England, Japan recommended as RWC hosts

Wednesday 01st July, 02:31 PM JST

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spudman at 04:21 PM JST - 1st July

world cup in japan in 2011, was never gonna happen. The rot started with the baby pooh jersey wearing dingo fodder convicts screwing it all up. NZ was owed as the sponsors need NZ participation or revenues dry up. It was payback time. Northlondon how many JRWC games did you see on the telly? None unless you have skaipa! General public in Japan could care less about rugby.
northlondon at 04:39 PM JST - 1st July

General public in Japan could care less about rugby.

Not an excuse. In 2003 Australia hosted it. Aussie Union is behind Aussie Rules, Cricket and Rugby League in that country. In 2007 France hosted it. Only in the south-west of France do people actually know what Rugby Union is. In 1995 South Africa hosted it and the general South African public couldn't care less about Rugby. Soccer is way ahead in South Africa as is their Cricket.

the sponsors need NZ participation or revenues dry up

Japanese commercial sponsorship would make that look like a piss in the ocean mate. It's time to grab that Japanese sponsor piece of the pie.
Heda_Madness at 04:43 PM JST - 1st July

Which they'll do in 2019. It looks likely that one of the groups will be played in Singapore/HK to give the World Cup a pan-Asia feel. The u-20 world cup was a big hit in Japan but it will take time for them to get ready for this and a couple of decent showings in the next two World Cups would help. There'll be a lot more coverage of Japanese rugby once this is finalised and a lot of money spent on advertising and generating interest. But that can't be achieved over night.
northlondon at 05:00 PM JST - 1st July

There'll be a lot more coverage of Japanese rugby once this is finalised and a lot of money spent on advertising and generating interest. But that can't be achieved over night.

Japan have 121,000 registered male rugby union players. Australia have 80,000. Wales 47,000. The interest is already there.

and a couple of decent showings in the next two World Cups would help

Soccer doesn't have a prejudice against weaker soccer nations hosting their World Cup. Only the old Rugby Union brigade seem to bring this subject up.
notimpressed at 05:30 PM JST - 1st July

well, in all fairness, it would do the comp and Japanese rugby a hell of a lot to win at least one game in a RWC. I know I always cheer for them and enjoy their games, but while being top of Asian rugby, they are wayyyy down the list. As for Japanese sponsors, they are in there whether the comp is played in Japan or not. Sanyo and Toshiba to name a few are plastered all over NZ and Aussie stadiums already.
northlondon at 05:38 PM JST - 1st July

England getting 2015 is a rubbish call. And I'm English.
Heda_Madness at 05:58 PM JST - 1st July

England getting it is because of the time difference and European TV rights. 2019 will probably go to South Africa or a European country for the same reasons.

I know that Japan has more registered rugby players than most countries and they also have the stadia (from 2002) to host a World Cup tomorrow.

But I think the fact that the Japan bid is going to include a group across Asia it shows how ready Japan is to host it. And for the record, I think if they wanted to choose a developing country to host a World Cup, I think they should have chosen Italy (possibly 2015 instead of England).
spudman at 06:09 PM JST - 1st July

Japanese commercial sponsorship would make that look like a piss in the ocean mate. Total BS. Adidas wouldn't give a pee in cup for the "Brave Blossoms" to wear there strip. Registered players includes all those High School players who only play for three years and have very little spending power. Registered numbers mean very little in gauging the general level of support for a sport. All those old fatties sitting on the bar stool in New Zealand are more lucrative for sponsors than a bunch of HS boys. I agree Japan needs a slice of the pie and they are getting it but JK needs to work his magic for another few tournaments so the BB can get some media attention.
northlondon at 06:32 PM JST - 1st July

Adidas versus Toyota/ Toshiba/ Suntory/ Canon (all sponsors of Japan's World Cup bid). So that leaves Adidas peeing into an empty World Cup then doesn't it ?
dishdash at 10:00 PM JST - 1st July

I hope Japan gets it...I hope I can make it as it will be a real chance to see rugby up close and personal...if its in England I will need some binoculars!
larguero at 11:25 PM JST - 1st July

It depends on what the IRB strategy is. If we are talking about really expanding the game: 1. It should be every 3 years instead of four. 2. It should be done in China, Corea and Japan 3. 2018 should be done in Argentina/Brasil or Africa.

With today's communications, considering European countries as different is ilogic: almost the same people goes to Wales, Scotland, Italy, Germany or England. Europe is the same market, and chances for increasing the market there are scarce. It is a safe business, though. If rugby wants to be a global sport, it has to go everywhere. Like football, like the Olympics. If not, it will remain a sport known in few countries, like baseball.
northlondon at 11:39 PM JST - 1st July

The Rugby World Cup selection system is inherently self-protective. Each union gets to vote for the host World Cup nation, with the more established unions getting slightly more votes. Therefore, with the 6 Nations teams and the Tri-Nations teams making deals with each other (lucrative test dates) in return for a vote their way, the other unions (i.e Japan) don't stand a chance. So the IRB are totally out of order to speak out and recommend their choices when it is supposed to be a 'democratic' voting system. Rugby Union needs the same selection system as the Olympics, which means an independent choice by an independent body.
smithinjapan at 12:31 AM JST - 2nd July

northlondon: "Japan have 121,000 registered male rugby union players."

Might be a lot of gays in there! be careful! (sorry... couldn't resist referring to your homophobic remarks on the Gates thread).

Anyway, would be cool if Japan gets it. They're unlikely to get the Olympics, and unlikely to get the dozen other International sporting events they want at the same time, so why not thrown them a bone, so to speak?

Good luck!
northlondon at 01:01 AM JST - 2nd July

Tough work trying to keep up with smiths various postings tonight...!
smithinjapan at 09:59 AM JST - 2nd July

northlondon: "Tough work trying to keep up with smiths various postings tonight...!"

Hang in there... you'll get a decent argument in there eventually; just need to drop the bias and extreme hatred.

Anyway, I do agree it would be cool for Japan to host the RWC, as I said.