Tokyo (AFP)
The 2019 edition in Japan, which wrapped up on Saturday, is "probably the biggest rugby World Cup" in history, said world rugby boss Bill Beaumont on Sunday.
"We will remember Japan-2019 probably as the biggest World Cup". "She was certainly the most revolutionary in bringing the game to new audiences and attracting new fans," World Rugby's English president told a news conference in Tokyo.
CEO Brett Gosper noted "more than 1.7 billion views on social media, a world-wide television audience record, 99% stadium fill rate, 1.2 million people in fan-zones" .
The World Cup also had "a record tourist and economic impact of $ 400 million" (EUR 358 million) for Japan, the first Asian nation to host a Rugby World Cup and outside the circle of historic powers.
Bill Beaumont also indicated that the process of awarding editions 2027 and 2031 would begin in November 2020.
The planetary authorities had already opted for a simultaneous attribution of the editions 2015 (England) and 2019 (Japan), and could be inspired by this approach by combining, for 2027 and 2031, a traditional rugby nation and an emerging nation, to favor access to new markets.
Finally, Bill Beaumont promised that World Rugby would do "everything in its power" to support emerging nations, like Japan, which reached the quarter-finals for the first time in its history.
"Japan will have matches against England, Ireland and Scotland next year," he said.
© 2019 AFP