Japanese officials will continue to press rugby authorities to consider Hong Kong and Singapore as flyaway venues to host games for the 2019 World Cup. Japan will become the tournament's first Asian hosts, but has proposed holding matches outside the country if logistically and financially viable.

Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) chairperson, Nobby Mashimo, said he would respect the decision of tournament organisers but underlined the importance of boosting the game across Asia. "We will meet with the Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) next week and formally begin the planning process for 2019," Mashimo told reporters.

"The tournament may be 10 years away but while the International Rugby Board (IRB) council ultimately decides (on venues), it is our responsibility to highlight the legacy benefits for Asia." Mashimo added: "China and South Korea are among nations who could be challenging Japan's supremacy in Asia by 2019 but it is Japan's role to try to stay ahead and be a leader for Asia."

Lasting legacy

Officials have already brought in former New Zealand international Jonah Lomu and his new Marseille boss Claude Atcher, president of the French club, as ambassador and special advisor respectively, to build momentum. "These are just the first steps," said Mashimo, who will host IRB President, Bernard Lapasset, at tomorrow's Bledisloe Cup clash between Australia and the All Blacks in Tokyo. "We plan to deliver a tournament that puts Japanese rugby on the world map and leaves a lasting legacy." Japan will make use of stadiums constructed for the 2002 soccer World Cup Japan co-hosted with South Korea at the 2019 tournament.

"It was right the IRB took the World Cup to a country that has not had it before and to the world's biggest market, Asia," said Lomu, a leading performer at the 1995 and 1999 tournaments.

"Japan will engage the public like it did with the soccer World Cup. It's going to be the biggest party on the planet and the most competitive rugby World Cup ever." – Reuters