Japan makes presentation to IRB for rugby World Cup bid

Thursday 14th May, 07:09 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 17 Total Comments Show All

timorborder at 09:33 AM JST - 14th May

Would love to see the Rugby World Cup come to Japan. I think it would be good for the game in the region as well. At the same time, however, I wouldn't be against the idea of an Pan-Asian hosting of this event. What I think is most important is getting the World Cup away from the traditional Rugby Unions (in the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) who have dominated the hosting of the event so far. As long as this continues to happen, the game is not going to expand to become trully global.
magpie at 10:15 AM JST - 14th May

soldave it is effectively an Asian bid that has the support of the Asian Unions.

It is however shouldered by Japan who are probably the only Asian country that has the credentials to put forward a compeeling bid. Japan has played in every Rugby world cup and also has the most number of registered clubs for a country.

It is a country with a long passionate hisptry for the sport. If the IRB is serious about the global development of Rugny and its future inclusion as an olympic sport, this is absolutely the right choice to make.
Patrick Smash at 10:22 AM JST - 14th May

The problem is that the next world cup is unlikelyto make any money because it is in NZ. That's the mistake. The IRB will want the 2015 tournament to refill the coffers and that almost certainly means a British bid. I hope Japan gets this ion 2015 anyway, but 2019 is more likely.
majimeaussie at 11:00 AM JST - 14th May

magpie, we already know they are not serious about global development of rugby otherwise Japan (or an combined Asia team) would have been included in the Super 14 instead of increasing the number of Australian teams.
soldave at 11:46 AM JST - 14th May

What sort of attendances are club sides and games involving the national team getting here in Japan?
DeepAir65 at 12:58 PM JST - 14th May

Japan is the 4th largest rugby nation in the world in terms of numbers playing. It would be criminal not to give it to Japan to host. Japan is much better set up for hosting an event like this than say, well frankly NZ.

Let's use those white elephants created by the football world cup for something!
soldave at 02:11 PM JST - 14th May

How many registered players are there in Japan?
LostinNagoya at 02:22 PM JST - 14th May

The IRB will require the host country to assemble capital of 80 million pounds (121 billion yen) for the 2015 meet and 96 million pounds (145 billion yen) for the 2019 meet. Japan has yet to receive any financial guarantees from the national government.

That´s a big, very big problem. One so big that Australia gave up its bid for the Rugby WC two weeks ago: IRB demmands bidding countries to gather the astronomic amounts above only for the bidding itself. It means that for instance, if Japan wins this bid, taxpayers will have to pay 121 or 145 billion yen, PLUS all the real expenses for infra-structure. An study by the Australian federation calculated that every ticked for the 2015/2019 WC should cost $2,000 Australian dollars to pay the investiments. A Y20,000 ticket in Japan? (Am I wrong here? This is what I read on the news, I am not familiar with rugby but the amounts involved are astonishing. Australia federation said even that IRB expectations are unrealistic. Correct me if I am wrong)
spudman at 03:23 PM JST - 14th May

majimeaussie: the super 14 has nothing to do with the IRB. As it stands the IRB is interested in spreading the game, witness the sevens and womens world cups and the developing nations junior world cup. SANZAR is a purely ARFU, NZRFU and SARFU enterprise.
soldave at 03:45 PM JST - 14th May

Can't see people willing to want their tax money spent on that, especially with this Olympic bid in full swing.
spudman at 04:18 PM JST - 14th May

soldave: since when did the public in Japan control the purse strings. Ex Prime minister will get the backing.
smithinjapan at 11:20 PM JST - 14th May

I think Japan has a decent chance, save for the situation Patrick Smash pointed out. It would be nice to see them get it, particularly since they probably won't get all of the other world events they are vying for at the same time.
magpie at 09:51 AM JST - 15th May

particularly since they probably won't get all of the other world events they are vying for at the same time

What a sporting spectacle if they do though! The Rugby World Cup, the Summer Olympics and most importantly the football world cup!
BurakuminDes at 11:13 PM JST - 15th May

Most Japanese think rugby involves wearing shoulder-pads, a helmet and quarterbacks. Anyway, the Japanese Rugby team seems to be a team of Kiwis and Pacific Islanders who somehow "acquired" Japanese passports! Including the Coach! lol
BurakuminDes at 01:32 AM JST - 17th May

...might I also add the Australian Rugby team also seems to be a ragtag bunch of Kiwis and Pacific Islanders - including the coach!