Rugby World Cup 2019

The Rugby World Cup is coming to Asia for the first time! With Japan securing the rights to the RWC 2019 in 2009, the rugby showcase will run from 20 September to 2 November. RugbyAsia247 presents the most important information below.

Rugby World Cup 2019

Although Hong Kong and Singapore were presented as potential hosts when the JRFU (Japan Rugby Football Federation) submitted their bid to World Rugby, neither feature in the final selection of 12 venues.

The National Olympic Stadium, which was targeting the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held in Japan was originally the planned venue for the RWC 2019 opening games and final. However, escalating costs have meant that the World Cup venue was replaced and the International Stadium Yokohama will host the prestigious final

Are you in Asia during the RWC 2019 but also looking for other rugby events and tournaments taking place? We have put together a guide on the best rugby tournaments in Asia during the Rugby World Cup. Keep tabs on all the best rugby tournaments in Asia with our Tournament Calendar. 

RWC matches and venues

Rugby World Cup Fixtures

World Rugby has up to date information on the matches and venues.

(all images are credited to World Rugby)

Rugby World Cup Pools

Rugby World Cup 2019 tickets

Tickets for the showpiece event have been available for some time through a number of lotteries and all remaining RWC tickets are sold on a first come first serve basis.

What Asian teams will play at RWC 2019?

Although the RWC will be in Asia for the first time, only one Asian team will be represented in Japan, and that is the home nation. The Brave Blossoms had a fantastic Rugby World Cup in 2015 and we hope Asia will get behind them at the World Cup.

Hong Kong managed to make it to the final repechage playoffs but unfortunately lost out on final qualification for the World Cup in 2019.

Read more about how the Japan national team did at the 2019 Pacific Nations Cup and their team selection for RWC 2019.

Rugby World Cup 2019 Champions

South Africa won the RWC 2019 beating England in the final to claim their 3rd Webb-Ellis Trophy and match the number that the All Blacks have. NZ claimed third place, beating Wales in the 3rd-4th playoff.

Rugby World Cup 2019 legacy

One of the big questions for Japan RFU and World Rugby was the hope they could impact positively on Asia and leave a legacy after the RWC 2019.  Below are some of the projects that are aiming to leave a positive rugby legacy in Asia.

ChildFund Pass It Back

A partnership between World Rugby and ChildFund Pass It Back (PIB) was announced in 2018 an “Impact Beyond 2019 legacy programme, aims to transform the lives of tens of thousands of children from disadvantaged communities in Asia through the delivery of an integrated life-skills and non-contact tag rugby curriculum.”

Fans can also choose to opt-in and donate when purchasing tickets to the Rugby World Cup 2019.

Read more about PIB in our interview with ChildFund Pass It Back Regional Director, Chris Mastaglio. We find out about the origins of the project and its growth over the recent years. You can also find out about how the RWC mascot Ren-G is supporting the project.

Impact Beyond Asia 1 Million Project

This project had some ambitious goals but the numbers according to World Rugby are positive. The aim of Impact Beyond was to mainly accelerate the growth of rugby in Asia.

• Asia 1 Million project numbers reached before the RWC 2019 (announced in December 2018)

Impact in Japan

• 230,000 new rugby participants in Get Into Rugby programmes across Japan
• 200,000 schoolchildren in Rugby World Cup host cities introduced to tag rugby following its inclusion in the physical education curriculum of 1,982 schools in the Rugby World Cup host cities.
• Additionally, a total of 9,603 tag teachers were awarded licenses after completing their training and are now skilled to lead tag rugby sessions.

Get Into Rugby

A number of emerging Asian rugby nations have also rolled out programs under the Get Into Rugby program to introduce more youths to play rugby throughout Asia.

World Cup Trophy Tour

Asia has been included as the famous Webb-Ellis trophy circumnavigates the world in the lead up to the RWC 2019. Countries such as Hong Kong, China, Philippines, India, Japan, Nepal, and Malaysia have hosted the tour.

Race to RWC

James Owens (Hong Kong) and Ron Rutland (South Africa) embarked on an epic Race to RWC bicycle ride from London to Japan. The pair will deliver the whistle to be used at the opening of the RWC on Friday 20th September 2019. Aside from the massive publicity gained cycling over 20,000km in 231 days, the pair have importantly raised awareness and funds for the ChildFund Pass It Back rugby development program on the Race to RWC ride.

Rugby World Cup: by the numbers

• 12 host cities
• 20 teams
• 48 matches
• 207 broadcast territories
• 3,000 media in attendance
• 20,000 disadvantaged children in Asia who will benefit from ChildFund Pass It Back support
• 400,000 international visitors
• 899,288 Impact Beyond Asia 1 Million Project participants to date
• 1.8 million attendance
• 2.5 million tickets applied for
• 14 million rugby fans in Japan
• 112 million rugby fans in Asia

Are you travelling to and around Japan for the Rugby World Cup? We put together a list of some of the best movies and documentaries focused on rugby which you can enjoy while on the road or in the air!

Rugby World Cup 2021

The Women’s Rugby World Cup will be held in New Zealand in 2021. In August 2019, World Rugby announced that the Rugby World Cup tournaments (15s and sevens) will have gender-neutral names, starting with the World Cup in 2021.

Rugby World Cup 2023

After the RWC in Japan, attention will turn to France who will host the tournament in 2023. France beat bids from Ireland and South Africa to win the hosting rights for 2023. They previously hosted the tournament in 2007, which was won the Springboks from South Africa.

Other interesting reads on Rugby in Asia

• Interested in how rugby in Iran is growing with programs like Get Into Rugby? Fund out more in our interview with World Rugby Services Manager for Asia, Ridzal Saat.
• The International Inclusive Challenge (ICC) has been confirmed to take place during the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan. The unique event will feature gay, inclusive and traditional rugby teams composed of players from around the world.
• Read our interview with Ada Milby (the first female member of the World Rugby Council as well as holding key roles in growing the game of rugby in the Philippines and Asia.) We talk rugby and gender-sport related issues as well as the growth of the women’s game in Asia.
• Find out about the courageous story of Hideyuki Sugita, known by his friends as Hide, who suffered a serious neck injury playing rugby. The injury resulted in him being almost completely paralyzed and he was told he would never walk again. In 2019 he overcame the tragedy by ascending Mount Fuji in Japan with support of his friends and teammates.