If 2015’s World Cup is on track to meet expectations, the same cannot be said for 2019’s version, but Bernard Lapasset, chairman of World Rugby, is adamant the event will be held in Japan, as planned.
After Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, decided to cancel plans to build a new national stadium, which would have formed the centrepiece, on the grounds of cost, World Rugby set Japan a deadline of the end of this month to come up with an alternative plan.
“We are very confident,” said Lapasset. “Japan 2019 became a difficult situation for us after the decision to cut the project for the new stadium, but we are in contact with the Japanese Rugby Football Union and we continue to work with the organising committee and the authorities in Japan.”
Reports have suggested South Africa and Italy, the other contenders to stage the 2019 World Cup, are ready to step in, but Lapasset has eyes only for the Far East, intent as his organisation is to break rugby into Asia. “We do not have a plan B,” he said, “and we have had no direct contact with South Africa or any of the others. It’s important we get the message across strongly that with four years to go we are continuing the process. We are resolving the problems and ensuring that we have the best possible event in Japan.”
