RWC 2019 Dates Announced And Logo Unveiled

The logo unveiling symbolises the transition from future to current host as the land of the rising sun prepares to welcome the world to Asia’s first Rugby World Cup.
 
With its emphasis on unity, the Rugby World Cup 2019 logo symbolises how the tournament will bring the people of Japan and rugby fans around the world together in a spirit of solidarity and friendly sporting rivalry.

The tournament will connect host cities and attract people from around the world to experience all that Japan has to offer.

The strong and distinctive logo combines the rising sun with another iconic symbol of Japan, Mount Fuji, showing the unity of sun and land.

Together with the familiar World Rugby shield the logo tells a story of not just a unified Japan but also the unity between Japan and the global game of rugby.
 
With the biggest and best Rugby World Cup reaching its climax, the dates for RWC 2019 were announced giving fans and unions the opportunity to start planning their Rugby World Cup 2019 experience.

The opening match will take place on Friday September 20, 2019, kicking off six weeks of incredible rugby action, with the final happening on Saturday, November 2.
 
World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper, who attended the logo unveiling, said: “As we approach the conclusion of a wonderful and record-breaking Rugby World Cup in England, we start to look forward to doing it all over again in Japan four years from now.

“It will be a truly unique Rugby World Cup, like none other that has gone before it. It will demonstrate the global nature of rugby and will give players, coaches, officials and spectators a special opportunity to be part of the sport’s showpiece tournament in a new and exciting location.
 
“The Brave Blossoms, Japan’s national team, have been one of the great stories from this year’s tournament. With their combination of skill, speed, athleticism and determination, they have won many admirers and they have inspired a nation to follow our great sport.
 
“All that bodes well for the next edition of Rugby World Cup. We want the Japanese people to fall in love with rugby so that not only will RWC 2019 be another successful chapter in the tournament’s history but that it will leave a legacy of participation and passion that will last beyond the final whistle of that tournament.”
 
Japan Rugby 2019 Chief Executive Akira Shimazu commented: “I am very satisfied with the striking new tournament mark which helps to symbolise ‘unity’ as a tournament concept. Also, it is great for the tournament that the dates have now been finalised.

“We believe that Rugby World Cup 2015 has been a huge success and there is a lot that we have learned from observing how the tournament has been run here in England.

“As we look forward to 2019, we will be capitalising on the excitement for rugby generated in Japan and around the world over the past few weeks. We want to attract rugby fans from every nation to Japan in 2019 and make the tournament a special occasion for the sport.”
 
Japan Rugby Football Union Chairman Noriyuki Sakamoto added: “We are very excited and proud to be the host union for RWC 2019 as the tournament is held in Asia for the very first time.

“Preparations have already begun and we have four years now to make sure it will be another hugely successful tournament and to create a lasting legacy that will have a real and profound impact on the game in Japan and right across the entire continent of Asia.”