When is the 2019 Rugby World Cup? Date, tickets, venues, qualified teams, TV channel, and live stream
SIX NATIONS are over and now it is all eyes on the Rugby World Cup in Japan this autumn.
The tournament heads to Asia for the first time as New Zealand target a third consecutive title.
When is the Rugby World Cup?
The Rugby World Cup will kick off on September 20, with host nation Japan taking on Russia.
The final will take place on November 2 at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama.
The highlight of the competition had originally been he National Olympic Stadium, which will be the main stage for the 2020 Summer Olympics, before being changed.
Can I still get tickets?
Tickets are still available to purchase until late July on a first-come first-served basis on the official Rugby World Cup website.
You will only be allowed to get tickets for one match per day, while you will have to act fast, with a majority of matches low on availability.
England’s group matches are all-but sold out, with only premium tickets left for their match against France – which will set you back £1014
The final is completely sold out, along with all of the semi-finals.
StubHub are also selling tickets, but the cheapest available for England’s opener against Tonga is £86.05.
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What teams have qualified?
There will 20 teams taking part in the tournament, initially split into four groups – with Namibia the lowest ranked side heading to Japan.
Pool A: Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Russia, Samoa
Pool B: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Namibia, Canada
Pool C: England, France, Argentina, USA, Tonga
Pool D: Australia, Wales, Georgia, Fiji, Uruguay
Where are the venues?
There will be 12 venues for the tournament, stretching across the nation.
The biggest stadium is Yokohama’s International Stadium – the host venue for the final – which has a capacity of 72,372.
The smallest in size is the Kamishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, holding 16,187 – hosting just two matches, Fiji vs Uruguay and Namibia vs Canada.
The venues are as follows:
- Tokyo Stadium, Chofu – 49,970 capacity
- International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama – 72,372 capacity
- Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Fukuroi – 50,889 capacity
- Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiosaka – 30,000 capacity
- Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka – 22,563 capacity
- Sapporo Dome, Sapporo – 41,410 capacity
- City of Toyota Stadium, Toyota – 45,000 capacity
- Oita Stadium, Oita – 40,000 capacity
- Kumamoto Stadium, Kumamoto – 32,000 capacity
- Kobe Misaki Stadium, Kobe – 30,132 capacity
- Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Kumagaya – 24,000 capacity
- Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, Kamaishi – 16,187 capacity
What TV channel will it be on and can I live stream it?
Having enjoyed success in previous tournament, ITV once again secured the television rights to cover the 2019 competition in Japan and the 2023 World Cup in France.
They will have exclusive rights in the UK, where you will be able to live stream via the ITV Hub.