Japan Became the Host for the 2019 RWC

Japan was selected as the host nation for the 2019 RWC. At the IRB board meeting held in Dublin on 28 July 2010, while the loss to New Zealand for the 2011 RWC bidding remained still fresh in our memory, the then IRB chairman, Bernard Lapasset, announced that Japan would host the 2019 RWC. It was the moment where the efforts that had been made by the JRFU to host the RWC since 2003 finally came to fruition.
Here are some comments made in our journal.
“We have enthusiastically longed for bringing rugby globalization and hosting the RWC in Asia. Our zeal and dream have finally come true. We still have a decade to go until 2019. But it might not be enough for us to tackle a great number of tasks and issues. Facing tough overseas teams, including New Zealand, England, and Australia, at the U20 Rugby World Championship held in Japan this year made us recognize our urgent task to cultivate and reinforce the Japanese rugby players. Having a strong sense of responsibility, we have to commit ourselves to work on this task. I would like to have each player of the Top League take pride in being a member of the host union for the RWC. It is because all of you are able to demonstrate high-level performance that can impress and inspire junior players of the next generations ranging from university, high-school, junior-high, and rugby school students, to kids playing tag rugby.” (Chairman Yoshiro Mori)
“On July 28, we received a great announcement that Japan was selected as the host nation for the 2019 RWC. We have appealed strongly that spreading and strengthening rugby in Asia should be essential for true rugby globalization, and to do so, we have to host the RWC in Japan. Our hot desire finally reached the IRB. We are very happy, but at the same time, feel deeply responsible for various aspects. We all have to do our best together in order to make a long-cherished dream, the RWC in Japan, a success. We have to build a firm foundation for hosting the RWC, such as the establishment of the rugby world cup organizing committee. The organizing committee will also promote concrete reinforcement plans.” (Vice Chairman and Senior Director, Noboru Mashimo)