Fans bereft as games cancelled

BIG BLOW: TYPHOON HAGIBIS SET TO MAKE LANDFALL

English and French rugby fans were left in a daze yesterday when they discovered their World Cup pool game cheduled for tomorrow had been cancelled due to an approaching typhoon.

Thousands of fans have descended on Tokyo for what was due to be the pool decider but World Rugby announced the cancellation earlier yesterday, as well as that of New Zealand v Italy.

“I am absolutely gutted,” England fan Vivian Hipkiss said. “I could cry now to be honest. So sad, I was really looking forward to the game.”

Typhoon Hagibis is expected to make landfall tomorrow. Authorities have urged people to prepare food and water.

A Sunday match between hosts Japan and Scotland is in doubt while flight and train delays and cancellations are likely to add to the misery of rugby fans moving about the country to catch games in different cities.

A fan from the US Virgin Islands, Austin Creel, had less than 24 hours to enjoy getting hold of a prized ticket for England’s match against France.

“I was hanging out with some English folk and just having a good time with them and I asked for a ticket,” he said.

“I really wanted to go – England v France is a huge match and I was really excited. One of the guys had a ticket and I bought it for £300. I really wanted to go and I am disappointed they cancelled it.”

Fans who bought tickets will be entitled to full refunds – though it was not clear how the system would work in the case of secondary sales. No World Cup match has ever been cancelled before.

“It is all very sad,” said France fan Frank.

“The supporters who came have come here especially for Le Crunch, he said referring to the match between the two old rivals.