ALEGAL STORM FORSRU
SCOTLAND are threatening legal action if they crash out the World Cup because of Typhoon Hagibis.
World Rugby insist tomorrow’s Yokohama clash with Japan won’t be rescheduled if the storm KO’s it.
Now the SRU have turned to London lawyers and called for flexibility from the tournament organisers while Japan coach Jamie Joseph, above, insists they want to
take on the Scots in the game that would decide who reaches the quarter-finals.
If it doesn’t go ahead Japan would go through and Scotland would crash out, assuming that Ireland beat Samoa in today’s other Pool A game.
SRU chief Mark Dodson said: “Rugby fans across the world are astounded at this rigidity from World Rugby.
“The common-sense approach to this is to play the game 24 hours later in perfect safety where we can make sure that the pool stages are completed, and the sporting integrity of the tournament remains intact. World Rugby is pointing us back to the participation agreement.
“We’ve had legal opinion – from a leading QC – that challenges World Rugby’s interpretation.
“This is a glorious, world-class sporting occasion. We don’t want to be the people who taint that. But we also don’t want to be the collateral damage of this.”
Japan coach Joseph added: “Everyone in our sport wants to play the match.
“We’ve never beaten Scotland, we’ve never got to the last eight. It’s why we need to play the match on Sunday and earn the right to get a bit of credit.”