Japan Rugby Football Union assures stakeholders 2019 Rugby World Cup will be problem free
Tatsuzo Yabe, the rugby chief of Japan Rugby Football Union, has stated that the post-tsunami problems will not affect the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The union has assured concerned parties that it is still strong enough to host a World Cup and a very
profitable one at that. The chief believes that even with the heavy cost reconstruction and maintenance, Japan can easily be a great host for something as big as the World Cup.
The chairman for Japan Rugby Football Union was giving an interview to reporters and gave a broader picture on the pros and cons of hosting the Rugby World Cup after the country was hit by a earthquake and resulting tsunami. Keeping the brighter side on
fore-front, the chairman also added that the budget was tight, but the union would manage it.
He said, “The disaster has not had any effect at all on the financial guarantees we have secured. I don't believe there will be a problem. When it was decided to hold the 2019 World Cup in Japan, profitability was the biggest question of course.”
He added, “Our aim is to host a successful rugby World Cup and to make sure the profit-loss statement is in the plus column at the end. We don't want to cause problems for the IRB or the Japanese government. We're confident we will make a profit but we know
it will be hard work.”
Japan as a nation has made its way out of the worst of times and this financial crisis will not be a factor that is too hard to overcome for the resilient nation. International Rugby Board has been a fatherly figure to Japan in this issue and has approved
their financial reports and budget plans for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The country’s fitness is the only doubt at the moment and the recent nuclear crisis has left a lot of questions unanswered. In presence of all such odds, Yabe has assured a tremendous World
Cup and promised it to be a money spinner for Japan.
Meanwhile, International Rugby Board has also shown support and has given financial guarantees to the hosts, in case things do get a bit tight. Japanese government has to support and fund colossal reconstruction and renovation in certain areas with an economic
strategy crisis looming. Meanwhile, the public liability is double Japan’s 5 trillion dollars economy.
On the other hand, it will be a positive aspect for Japan’s rugby team to be playing at home. Yabe seemed happy about the fact and even though the team isn’t doing its best this time around, Yabe as guaranteed that the team will be making it to the top eight
at least. And for the upcoming World Cup he wished the same and keeping in mind that Japan will be playing in a pool which has France and New Zealand, he said it would a major win to be qualifying out of this pool.
Talking about his expectations from Japan’s team he said, “At the last World Cup we drew one and lost three games. This year I'd like to see us beat Tonga and Canada as a minimum. In 2019 we will be at home so we want Japan to be in the knockout stages at
the very least.”
Japan’s performance in the 2011 Rugby World Cup will matter a lot for its standing in international rugby and for the build up for the Cup that is destined for Japan in 2019.
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