Japan's Rugby World Cup dreaming goes way beyond sport
The divide between sport and politics is thinner than you might think.
Fans enjoy the pre match atmosphere prior to the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group D game between Georgia and Uruguay at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan. Getty Images
Key Statistics
- 9Number of Rugby World Cups held
- 43Days the 2019 RWC will be played over
- 20Teams involved
The first match of an international tournament is always a big deal, and this year’s Rugby World Cup opener on September 20 was no different. However, when hosts Japan kicked off their campaign against Russia, there was a palpable feeling this one was particularly significant. This, the first Rugby World Cup in Asia, has the potential to change the game forever.
Rugby, at the highest level, straddles a Eurocentric and Oceanian bias (with the notable and key exception of South Africa). It’s rare that a team outside of this narrow paradigm succeeds when facing one of the sport’s big boys.
New Statesman
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