London (AFP)
"Ticket sales are exceptional" for the Rugby World Cup in Japan, World Rugby leader Brett Gosper said in an interview with AFP at fifty days of the World Cup (20 September - 2 November).
"5.5 million applications is a record for a Rugby World Cup, ahead of England in 2015. We have sold more than 85% of tickets while there is still a final sales phase that will start August 10, "announced the CEO of the world rugby forum.
For the first World Cup held on the Asian continent (Japan had won in front of Italy and South Africa), a record audience for a rugby match on television is expected by the organizers, with 40 million viewers expected around the world for the opening match of the host country against Russia on 20 September. And according to Brett Gosper, interest should not weaken even if Japan is out of the pool phase.
"I would like to tell you that we knew it was going to be the case, but when we asked the organizers if they were going to fill the stadiums, it was the least of their worries." The Japanese love the big events, and they are in to prove it, "added the boss of the world rugby, in office since 2012.
Gosper also introduced Germany, India and China as "progress zones" in terms of practitioners, and hopes for "growing interest in Malaysia and Indonesia" after the World Cup.
Australia's World Rugby president and chief executive, a former Racing 92 player between 1981 and 1990, said he had surpassed the goal of one million additional rugby players in Asia.
"Now the key will be to keep them in. Good, of course, if every child in school in Japan starts to want to play rugby, we will have a slight problem! Overall, we really started a real interest in rugby. place, and it was one of our major objectives, "he said.
© 2019 AFP