Tokyo (AFP)

The organizers of the Rugby World Cup said they would take "as soon as possible" after the passage of Typhoon Hagibis a decision on the holding of Sunday's matches, including the decisive Japan-Scotland.

"We will undertake a detailed inspection of the sites as soon as practically possible after the typhoon and news will be published as soon as this process is conducted in the morning (Sunday)," Rugby said in a statement. published on Saturday, recalling that "safety is the priority".

For the first time since the inaugural edition in 1987, World Rugby was forced to cancel two matches scheduled Saturday, New Zealand - Italy to Toyota and England - France in Yokohama, because of the passage of Hagibis, the most powerful of the year to hit Japan, according to the National Meteorological Agency (JMA).

Four more matches are scheduled Sunday including Japan-Scotland, Yokohama, decisive for the qualification for the quarter-finals.

In case of cancellation, synonymous with draw (0-0), Japan would be qualified and Scotland eliminated.

The Scottish XV federation and coaches pressured World Rugby to have the match played at any cost, in Yokohama or elsewhere, on Sunday or Monday, with the threat of recourse to the courts.

World Rugby, who described the Scottish position as "disappointing", recalled that the Scots had signed the terms of participation as the other 19 teams.

Meanwhile, the United States faces Tonga in Hanazono, in the Osaka region, where the typhoon is expected to have disappeared Sunday, while Canada-Namibia is scheduled to Kamaishi (east) which is expected to be the last region affected by the storm.

Finally, Wales must meet Uruguay at Kumamoto, on the southernmost island (Kyushu), which is not affected by the typhoon.

Typhoon Hagibis hits central and eastern Japan on Saturday. According to forecasts, most of the storm is expected in the early evening, with torrential rains and wind gusts exceeding 200 km / h.

© 2019 AFP