Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Wonderful Rugby World Cup News.
Lots of enthusing about the decision of the International Rugby Board to award the 2015 Rugby World Cup to England (and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff). Its good news for British rugby fans - even if the British taxpayer is reported to have chipped in £25 million to help bring off the deal. But not that much excitement because most of us thought it was always much the most likely decision. The really fantastic bit of news is the announcement now that the 2019 Rugby World Cup has been awarded to Japan. It should have been Japan in 2011, but the old guard scratched each other's backs and plumped for short sightedness and give it to New Zealand. Now lets hope this decision will lead to Japan becoming a genuinely competitive rugby playing nation. Personally, I'd like to see the 2023 Rugby World Cup going to Italy or Argentina - but I suspect that this is too much to hope for.
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4 comments:
1923 world cup?
Thanks Gary - corrected
I would have thought Australia and SA would be the front-runners for 2023. A France/Italy bid might be good perhaps with a pool each in Romania and Spain.
I am a kiwi living in Japan so had a foot in both camps re world cup 2011. However, as history has shown it was the right decision to reward it to NZ. I have serious reservations about how successful world cup 2019 will be in Japan. Rugby coverage on J Sports is average with many top club and international games not covered, eg; only 1 test out of 3 between NZ and Ire next month. I went up to the Tokyo 7s and the crowd numbers were very disappointing. The Japan national team struggles to draw size able crowds at its home games. Japan certainly has the infrastructure but that means nothing if people don't show up refer Scotland 1999.
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