Japan 2019: Rugby World Cup SEPTEMBER 20 - NOVEMBER 2 Japan hosts the Rugby World Cup for the first time, as the tournament moves outside the traditional heartlands of the sport. Reigning champions New Zealand will be aiming to win a record-extending fourth title Roll Call of Champions Winners presented with Webb Ellis Cup, manufactured by London jewellers Carrington and Co. in 1906 – replica of trophy crafted in 1740. Cup named after William Webb Ellis, credited as creator of rugby football 1987 New Zealand 29-9 France Host: Australia, New Zealand 1991 Australia 12-6 England England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales 1995 South Africa 15-12 N. Zealand South Africa 1999 Australia 35-12 France England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales 2003 England 20-17 Australia Australia 2007 South Africa 15-6 England France 2011 New Zealand 8-7 France New Zealand 2015 New Zealand 34-17 Australia England, Wales WINNING FEELING: New Zealand “All Blacks” currently on superlative 14-game World Cup winning streak – scoring 591 points New Zealand 84.6% – Win ratio Tournament wins: 44 Australia 76.5% 39 France 63.5% 33 England 64.6% 31 South Africa 78.9% 30 Scotland 53.7% 22 Ireland 55.3% 21 Wales 52.5% 21 Argentina 46.3% 19 Venues Sapporo Dome 41,000 Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium 16,000 Kumagaya Rugby Stadium 24,000 Tokyo Stadium Capacity: 50,000 International Stadium Yokohama 72,000 Shizuoka Stadium, Fukuroi 51,000 City of Toyota Stadium 45,000 Higashiosaka Hanazono Rugby Stadium 24,000 Kobe Misaki Stadium 30,000 Oita Stadium 40,000 Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium 20,000 Kumamoto Stadium 32,000 SIRIUS 2019 Official World Cup match ball New grip pattern enhances handling without compromising durability. Surface design improved to enable quicker water dispersion JAPAN: WORLD CUP RECORD W4 L22 D2 Has qualified for each World Cup but yet to progress from pool stage. Won three games in 2015 under current England coach Eddie Jones, including surprise 34-32 triumph over South Africa Competition schedule 20 teams contest total of 48 matches, played at 12 venues, over six weeks Top two teams from each group progress to knockout stage 0 World Rugby rank (Dec 2018) Sep/Oct A 2 7 11 19 16 20 Japan Russia Tokyo 22 Ireland Scotland Yokohama 24 Russia Samoa Kumagaya 28 Japan Ireland Fukuroi 30 Scotland Samoa Kobe 3 Ireland Russia Kobe 5 Japan Samoa Toyota 9 Scotland Russia Fukuroi 12 Ireland Samoa Fukuoka 13 Japan Scotland Yokohama Sep/Oct B 1 5 15 22 20 21 New Zealand South Africa Yokohama 22 Italy Namibia Higashiosaka 26 Italy Canada Fukuoka 28 South Africa Namibia Toyota 2 New Zealand Canada Oita 4 South Africa Italy Fukuroi 6 New Zealand Namibia Tokyo 8 South Africa Canada Kobe 12 New Zealand Italy Toyota 13 Namibia Canada Kamaishi Sep/Oct C 4 9 10 12 14 21 France Argentina Tokyo 22 England Tonga Sapporo 26 England United States Kobe 28 Argentina Tonga Higashiosaka 2 France United States Fukuoka 5 England Argentina Tokyo 6 France Tonga Kumamoto 9 Argentina United States Kumagaya 12 England France Yokohama 13 United States Tonga Higashiosaka Sep/Oct D 6 3 13 8 17 21 Australia Fiji Sapporo 23 Wales Georgia Toyota 25 Fiji Uruguay Kamaishi 29 Georgia Uruguay Kumagaya 29 Australia Wales Tokyo 3 Georgia Fiji Higashiosaka 5 Australia Uruguay Oita 9 Wales Fiji Oita 11 Australia Georgia Fukuroi 13 Wales Uruguay Kumamoto P W D L F A Pts 1 2 3 4 5 P W D L F A Pts 1 2 3 4 5 P W D L F A Pts 1 2 3 4 5 P W D L F A Pts 1 2 3 4 5 If scores level after 80 minutes, matches go into extra-time, then sudden death extra-time. Matches remaining level decided on drop goals Quarter-finals Bronze final Quarter-finals Nov 1 Tokyo Oct 19: Tokyo Oct 20 Toyko B1 A1 A2 Semi-final FINAL Semi-final B2 Oct 26 Yokohama Nov 2 Yokohama Oct 27 Yokohama Oct 19 Oita Oct 20: Oita C1 D1 D2 C2 Yokohama International Stadium Capacity: 72,000 Opened in 1998 – hosted four matches at 2002 World Cup including final Stadium also hosted Bledisloe Cup between New Zealand and Australia in Oct 2018 Richie Mo’unga New Zealand Talented fly-half made All Blacks’ debut against France in June 2018. Two-time Super Rugby champion with Canterbury Crusaders Michael Leitch Japan New Zealand-born back row moved to Japan aged 15. Has captained Cherry Blossoms since 2014 Source: World Rugby Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS