Tokyo's 80,000 seater New National Stadium will be one of 12 stadia to host matches at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
The venues will span the length and breadth of Japan, from Sapporo City in the northernmost main island of Hokkaido right down to Kumamoto City in the south. There's also a healthy mix of stadium capacities ranging from 80,000 in Tokyo to 15,000 at Kamaishi City in Iwate Prefecture.
The decision on which venues would be selected took into account a range of criteria, including stadium quality, nearby training and other facilities, transport and the availability of local accommodation for teams, fans and media.
Speaking at a media conference in Dublin following the announcement, World Cup chairman Bernard Lapasset spoke of his pride in being able to deliver Asia's first ever World Cup.
'This is an important milestone for the tournament. Now we know exactly where the matches will be staged in Japan and, more importantly, the people of those cities and fans around the world can start planning for the big event.
'In 2019, hundreds of thousands of rugby fans will descend on Japan and millions more will watch on television as the world’s best players compete for the right to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.
'It will be a wonderful tournament and, as it’s the first time the World Cup will take place in Asia, it will be an important milestone for us as we continue to make good on our commitment to grow the global game.'
The full list of venues is:
– Sapporo Dome, Sapporo City
– Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, Iwate Prefecture/Kamaishi City
– Kumagaya Rugby Ground, Saitama Prefecture/Kumagaya City
– New National Stadium Japan, Tokyo
– International Stadium Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture/Yokohama City
– Ogasayama Sports Park Ecopa Stadium, Shizuoka Prefecture
– Toyota Stadium, Aichi Prefecture/Toyota City
– Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka Prefecture/Higashi Osaka City
– Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium, Kobe City
– Hakatanomori Football Stadium, Fukuoka City
– Kumamoto Prefectural Athletic Stadium, Kumamoto Prefecture/Kumamoto City
– Oita Stadium, Oita Prefecture
Photo: Japan Sports Council
