2019 World Cup hosts Japan suffer stadium setback
Friday 17 July 2015 15:27, UK
World Rugby has expressed its disappointment over the news that Japan’s new national stadium, which was due to host the final of the 2019 rugby union World Cup, will not now be finished in time for the tournament.
The proposed stadium was scheduled to host the final of the tournament – as well as other matches – but Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on Friday that, due to escalating costs, the construction has been scrapped.
Abe said: "We are scrapping our plans for the stadium, and starting from zero."
However, a modified stadium will be built in its place and be ready in time to host the Tokyo Olympic Games of 2020.
Unfortunately, costs have ballooned by nearly twice the original budget sparking an uproar in Japan.
It is believed that Yokohama's 72,000-capacity stadium, which hosted the final of football’s World Cup in 2002, will stage the rugby showpiece.
World Rugby officials have indicated they will be seeking urgent talks with tournament organisers.
World Rugby said in a statement: “We are extremely disappointed by today's announcement that the new National Stadium will not be ready to host Rugby World Cup 2019 matches despite repeated assurances to the contrary from the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee and Japan Sports Council.
"The National Stadium was a compelling and important pillar of Japan's successful bid to host Rugby World Cup 2019, which was awarded to the Japan Rugby Football Union in 2009.
"World Rugby is urgently seeking further detailed clarification from the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee and will need to consider the options relating to the impact of today's announcement."
Japan are the first Asian country to be awarded the tournament which began in 1987 and has been staged every four years.
The 2019 rugby World Cup will be played in a dozen stadia while construction for the national stadium was due to begin in October with a completion date of May 2019.
Officials have already adjusted the design in an attempt to cut costs, while a planned retractable roof will be added after the Olympics and Paralympics.
The number of permanent seats will be reduced from 80,000 to 65,000 after the Games, with the stadium to be built on the site of the one used for athletics at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
