Japan supporters swept up in their side’s sensational Rugby World Cup victory over South Africa swarmed the official store on Oxford Street on Sunday to the extent that it had to close, according to World Rugby’s chief executive, Brett Gosper.
The team nicknamed the Brave Blossoms were already among the best supported nations in the tournament, but their 34-32 win over the two-times champions – widely viewed as the greatest shock in the history of the competition – has taken their following to unprecedented levels.
Plenty of those supporters were determined to get their hands on official merchandise to remember their side’s feat, but the central London store was unable to cater for the demands, revealed Gosper. On Monday he tweeted: “We had to close #RWC2015 official merchandise store on Oxford St yesterday due to overwhelming merchandise demand from the Japanese public.”
We had to close #RWC2015 official merchandise store on Oxford St yesterday due to overwhelming merchandise demand from the Japanese public.
— Brett Gosper (@brettgosper) September 21, 2015
