Rugby 2019 World Cup Japan schedule announced
World Rugby and the Japan Rugby organizing committee have announced the match schedule for the Rugby World Cup 2019.
World Rugby and the Japan Rugby organizing committee have announced the match schedule for the Rugby World Cup 2019 which will be hosted in Japan.
With qualifying tournaments still underway, it’s been announced that Japan will play the winner of the European qualifying competition in the opening game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium on 20 September.
This will be the first time the tournament will be held in Asia, as well as the first time the event will take place outside the traditional heartland of rugby.
All Blacks-Springboks
One of the most expected games of the pool stage will be New Zealand and South Africa’s Pool B opener in Yokohama. The match between the Boks and the All Blacks will be played at the Kanagawa Yokohama Stadium – with a capacity of 72,327 spectators – on Saturday, 21 September at 18:45 (local time, JST). It will be the second consecutive World Cup in which New Zealand faces their toughest pool opponent in their opening match, having done so against Argentina in 2015.
Apart from the match against the Springboks, the All Blacks, looking for their third straight title, will face a repachage winner on 2 October, a yet-to-be-determined African nation on 6 October and Italy on 12 October. South Africa meanwhile, will play against a yet-to-be-determined African nation on 28 September, Italy on 4 October, and a repechage winner on 8 October. The All Blacks and the Springboks have met four times previous Rugby World Cup tournaments, with two victories for each.
Japan aiming to reach the knockout stage
The Brave Blossoms will take on the winner of the European qualifying competition in the opening game of the World Cup. Japan’s rival in the opening match could be either Romania, Russia, Spain, Germany or Belgium. It will be determined in next year’s Rugby Europe Championship from February to March.
Bidding to reach the knockout stage, the Blossoms will then face Ireland on 28 September, the winner of the qualifying play-off on 5 October and Scotland on 13 October. “Seeing the schedule gives us certainty in terms of where the games are going to be played and who we’re going to be playing and at what time,” said Japan coach Jamie Joseph.“So that’s really exciting because it feels like the World Cup is drawing nearer. It allows us to start our planning in more detail now.”
Full tournament schedule
POOL A
Sept. 20: Japan v Europe 1, Tokyo
Sept. 22: Ireland v Scotland, Yokohama
Sept. 24: Europe 1 v Playoff winner, Kumagaya
Sept. 28: Japan v Ireland, Shizuoka
Sept. 30: Scotland v Playoff winner, Kobe
Oct. 3: Ireland v Europe 1, Kobe
Oct. 5: Japan v Playoff winner, Toyota
Oct. 9: Scotland v Europe 1, Shizuoka
Oct. 12: Ireland v Playoff winner, Fukuoka
Oct. 13: Japan v Scotland, Yokohama
POOL B
Sept. 21: New Zealand v South Africa, Yokohama
Sept. 22: Italy v Africa 1, Osaka
Sept. 26: Italy v Repechage winner, Fukuoka
Sept. 28: South Africa v Africa 1, Toyota
Oct. 2: New Zealand v Repechage winner, Oita
Oct. 4: South Africa v Italy, Shizuoka
Oct. 6: New Zealand v Africa 1, Tokyo
Oct. 8: South Africa v Repechage winner, Kobe
Oct. 12: New Zealand v Italy, Toyota
Oct. 13: Africa 1 v Repechage winner, Kamaishi
POOL C
Sept. 21: France v Argentina, Tokyo
Sept. 22: England v Tonga, Sapporo
Sept. 26: England v United States, Kobe
Sept. 28: Argentina v Tonga, Osaka
Oct. 2: France v United States, Fukuoka
Oct. 5: England v Argentina, Tokyo
Oct. 6: France v Tonga, Kumamoto
Oct. 9: Argentina v United States, Kumagaya
Oct. 12: England v France, Yokohama
Oct. 13: United States v Tonga, Osaka
POOL D
Sept. 21: Australia v Fiji, Sapporo
Sept 23: Wales v Georgia, Toyota
Sept. 25: Fiji v Americas 2, Kamaishi
Sept. 29: Georgia v Americas 2, Kumagaya
Sept. 29: Australia v Wales, Tokyo
Oct. 3: Georgia v Fiji, Osaka
Oct. 5: Australia v Americas 2, Oita
Oct. 9: Wales v Fiji, Oita
Oct. 11: Australia v Georgia, Shizuoka
Oct. 13: Wales v Americas 2, Kunamoto
Quarter-finals
Oct. 19: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D, Oita (QF1)
Oct. 19: Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A, Tokyo (QF2)
Oct. 20: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C, Oita (QF3)
Oct. 20: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B, Tokyo (QF4)
Semi-finals
Oct. 26: Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2, Yokohama
Oct. 27: Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4, Yokohama
Final
Nov. 2: Yokohama