Japan warned that World Cup training venues are behind schedule

Rugby World Cup organisers remain confident the 2019 tournament in Japan will be a “special and ground-breaking event”, despite having to instruct the local organisers in the country to accelerate plans for the provision of training venues for the 20 teams.

A third review process conducted by World Rugby has resulted in a gee-up notice being issued for the tournament, which begins on Sept 20, 2019.

“There are some areas where the organising committee has not progressed as much as we would expect by this stage and the Japan Rugby 2019 organising committee recognise that they need to accelerate the selection of training venues,” said Alan Gilpin, the Rugby World Cup tournament director.

“While there are several areas where this organising committee is very much on track or ahead of preparations compared to England 2015, there are important areas that are not, such as team training facilities, which are central to team performance and player welfare.

“These venues must be of a world-class standard that provide the platform for the players to perform at their best. Our colleagues at the organising committee are aware of what they need to do, we have a road map and we are giving them as much support as they require to get things back on track.”

Organisers insist there is no sense of crisis about Japan’s ability to deliver. It is the first Rugby World Cup to be held outside the sport’s traditional territories and there are great hopes that the tournament will spread the rugby word across Asia.

“There is no time to lose with two years to go,” said Gilpin. “The next few months will be critical to the ultimate success of the tournament, with the match schedule and ticketing programme set to be finalised and announced before the end of the year.” The match fixture schedule will be announced on Nov 2.