Japan Hosts Asia’s First Rugby World Cup

On 20 September 2019, the ninth Rugby World Cup commenced at Ajinomoto Stadium in Chofu, Tokyo, marking the very first time the tournament took place in Asia and beyond the traditional Tier 1 rugby nations. The International Rugby Board had initially awarded the 2019 hosting rights to the Japan Rugby Football Union in July 2009, selecting Japan alongside England for 2015 by a 16-10 vote. Although the new National Stadium in Tokyo was originally slated as the primary arena, escalating expenses and design disputes forced planners to scrap and rebid the construction project in 2015. Organisers consequently shifted the opening fixture to Tokyo Stadium and relocated the championship match to International Stadium Yokohama, which had previously staged the final of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Twenty national squads competed across four pools of five teams, using twelve stadiums dispersed across Japan. The host country achieved an unprecedented sporting breakthrough in Pool A. After opening with a 30-10 victory over Russia, Japan produced a major upset by defeating Ireland 19-12 in Fukuroi, helped by a second-half try from Kenki Fukuoka. The team subsequently secured a bonus-point victory over Samoa before facing Scotland in their decisive final group fixture. Japan prevailed 28-21 against the Scots, ensuring they became the first Tier 2 nation to advance to the World Cup quarter-finals since 2007, topping their pool undefeated.