Rugby World Cup 2019 Match Schedule and Ticket Sales Overview Announced Taisho Pharmaceutical Becomes Official Sponsor

On November 2, the Rugby World Cup 2019 Organizing Committee announced the full match schedule for the 2019 Japan tournament in Minato Ward, Tokyo. This date marks exactly two years before the tournament final.
Scheduled for September 20 to November 2, 2019, this tournament is drawing significant attention as the first to be held outside traditional rugby nations. Its vision is "Bond, Co-creation, and Forward."
Its catchphrase, "Not once every four years. Once in a lifetime. - ONCE IN A LIFETIME -," strongly emphasizes that this is a step toward making new history.
Official Tournament Website: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/

Organizing Committee Chairman Fujio Mitarai stated, "We want to convey the spirit and values rugby has cultivated over time to every corner of the world. We aim to add a new chapter to the history of the Rugby World Cup and create a festival that brings excitement and shared emotion to the entire world."

At the venue, the tournament's Dream Supporters—Ayumi Tanimoto (former Japanese national judo team member), Satoru Nakajima (former F1 driver), Yasutaro Matsuki (former Japanese national soccer team member), Koji Murofushi (former Japanese national hammer throw team member), Yoko Söderlund (former USA national volleyball team), and ambassadors Yoshihiko Sakuraba, Tsutomu Matsuda, and Terunori Masubo (former Japan national rugby team members). They announced the schedule and venues for all 48 matches. The tournament will run for 44 days across 12 cities and 12 venues nationwide, from the opening match to the final.
The host nation's Japan team, in Pool A, will face the European representative in the opening match at Tokyo Stadium in Chofu City on September 20. They will then play Ireland on September 28, the Europe-Oceania Playoff winner on October 5, and Scotland on October 13.

Special guests on stage included former Wales representative Shane Williams, former Australia and Japan representative Ian Williams, and 2015 Rugby World Cup stars Ayumu Goromaru and Kensuke Hatakeyama, who participated in a talk session.
Reflecting on the previous tournament, Goromaru commented on the announced schedule: "The opening match brings pressure. I hope they secure a solid result and get revenge against Scotland in the final match." Hatakeyama added, "Ireland, Scotland, and many teams in Europe excel at set pieces. How Japan approaches these unavoidable situations will be crucial." Shane Williams remarked, "Among the many exciting matches, Japan vs. Scotland stands out. This time, I hope they beat Scotland and advance to the quarterfinals."

■ Tournament Tickets

Advance lottery sales for tournament tickets begin January 19, 2018, with a global simultaneous lottery sale starting January 27. Total ticket sales for all matches will reach approximately 1.8 million.
The minimum ticket price is ¥2,019, reflecting the tournament year. To provide children with a valuable experience, "Kids Tickets" starting at ¥1,000 will be available, along with "Set Tickets" designed to meet various viewing needs.
Official Ticket Site: https://tickets.rugbyworldcup.com

 

■ Official Sponsor

On the 1st, ahead of the match schedule announcement, Taisho Pharmaceutical announced it had signed an official sponsorship agreement for the tournament. The company has served as the "Official Sponsor of the Japan National Rugby Team" since 2001 and as an "Official Partner" since 2016. Since 2002, it has also been the title sponsor for matches where the Japan national team plays against overseas national teams, contributing significantly to the development of Japanese rugby.
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont commented, "Having Taisho Pharmaceutical and its Lipovitan D brand, such important supporters of rugby in Japan, join the partnership reaffirms how special and prestigious this tournament is."
President Shigeru Uehara stated, "It is an honor to participate in this tournament held in the commemorative year marking 120 years since rugby's inception in Japan. We hope this will help spread the appeal of rugby and boost its popularity."