World Cup in Japan ‘will be a commercial success’
Global rugby CEO says the event has converged well with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper is confident that Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan will be their most successful yet‚ despite some organisational problems over the past few years. Japan was awarded the hosting rights to the event a decade ago and Gosper acknowledged that the lead-time was too long. Japan will also host the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and it was initially feared the global multi-sport showpiece could detract from the Rugby World Cup. “There were some hiccups in the planning along the way and at times we had a few issues and we had to put pressure on the organising committee‚” Gosper told Business Day at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco. “They responded and are well on track now. This was also the longest build-up to a World Cup as Japan were awarded the hosting rights 10 years ago and that’s almost too long. Ideally, you want about six years’ lead-up to a World Cup. “In the beginning we worried that the tournament was the year before the Tokyo Olympics and that it might b...
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