Seems like all the highways in 2019 will lead to Japan. Friday 20th September 11:45 GMT will be the kick off of the opening game of the Rugby World Cup 2019 Fixtures between the host Japan and Russia. Every World Cup has always the effect of giving goosebumps, but this year it is more than that. It is the first World Cup which will be held in Asia. This asks for many months’ preparations, but we already know where the sun is going to set this year. The Japan Rugby World Cup 2019 Venues are given below.

Japan Rugby World Cup 2019 Venues

The ninth edition of the rugby world cup will be staged up in 12 different stadiums in Japan later in this year. Twenty teams are divided into four pools who will compete with each other in the different venues. Let’s take a look at the host venues of the Rugby World Cup 2019 at a glance.

Tokyo Stadium

Welcome to one of the largest stadiums among the Japan rugby world cup 2019 venues in the capital of Japan. This stadium is also known as Ajinomoto Stadium situated at Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. This one for sure will intrigue you. Tokyo Stadium has a capacity of 49,970 people and can be found in the western suburbs of Tokyo. This stadium’s length is 110.5 m and width 75.4 m. Soccer club, J. League F.C. call it home. The stadium will host the eight matches. They are five pool stage games, two quarter-finals, and the Bronze Final.

  • Pool A: Japan vs Russia; Fri 20th Sep
  • Pool C: France vs Argentina; Sat 21st Sep
  • Pool D: Australia vs Wales; Sun 29th Sep
  • Pool C: England vs Argentina; Sat 5th Oct
  • Pool B: New Zealand vs Namibia; Sun 6th Oct
  • 2nd Quarter-Finals: Pool B Winner vs Pool A Runner Up; Sat 19th Oct
  • 4th Quarter-Finals: Pool A Winner vs Pool B Runner Up; Sun 20th Oct
  • Bronze Final: Loser Semi Final 1 vs Loser Semi Final 2; Fri 1st Nov

Sapporo Dome

This stadium has a capacity of 41, 410 people, it is located in Sapporo City and is the home of the Japan Pro Baseball Nippon Ham Fighters. Sapporo Dome is not just a random stadium. I remember the ceremony of the 2017 Asian Winter Games, in which Sapporo dome was the host stadium. Still, it doesn’t end here. It was also the part of the FIFA World Cup 2002 as one of the sites. Sapporo Dome will host two pool stage games. They are

  • Pool D: Australia vs Fiji; Sat 21st Sep
  • Pool C: England vs Tonga; Sun 22nd Sep

International Stadium Yokohama

The numbers are going up; I present to you 72,327 capacity International Stadium Yokohama which also known as Nissan Stadium. This is the largest in between the Japan Rugby World Cup 2019 Venues, also just an hour away from Tokyo. This will be the stadium to host the Final match of the World Cup, which it is not its first time since it hosted the Final match of FIFA World Cup 2002. Nissan Stadium will arrange seven games including the Rugby World Cup 2019 Final:

  • Pool B: New Zealand vs South Africa; Sat 21st Sep
  • Pool A: Ireland vs Scotland; Sun 22nd Sep
  • Pool C: England vs France; Sat 12th Oct
  • Pool A: Japan vs Scotland; Sun 13th Oct
  • 1st Semi Final: 1st Quarter Final Winner vs 2nd Quarter Final Winner; Sat 26th Oct
  • 2nd Semi Final: 3rd Quarter Final Winner vs 4th Quarter Final Winner; Sun 27th Oct
  • Final: 1st Semi Final Winner vs 2nd Semi Final Winner; Sat 2nd Nov

Hanazono Rugby Stadium

This stadium is situated at Higashiosaka City about 500 km from the capital, located in Western Japan. Hanazano is established in 1929 and its capacity is thirty thousand. Hanazono will host the below listed four games of the pool stage.

  • Pool B: Italy vs Namibia; Sun 22nd Sep
  • Pool C: Argentina vs Tonga; Sat 28th Sep
  • Pool D: Georgia vs Fiji; Thu 3rd Oct
  • Pool C: The United States vs Tonga; Sun 13th Oct

City of Toyota Stadium

After Hanazono Stadium, comes Toyota. It has a capacity of 45,000 seats. In 2012 it was the host of the quarter-final of the FIFA World Cup. The four pool stage matches that will be held at this stadium are:

  • Pool D: Wales vs Georgia; Mon 23rd Sep
  • Pool B: South Africa vs Namibia; Sat 28th Sep
  • Pool A: Japan vs Samoa; Sat 5th Oct
  • Pool B: New Zealand vs Italy; Sat 12th Oct

Kumagaya Rugby Stadium

Kumagaya stadium is situated at Saitama Prefecture, Kumagaya City. It can hold 24,000 people, a little more than the previous one but for this year’s world cup the capacity will be increased as thirty thousand. The stadium is part of a massive sports complex. The stadium will host three games of the pool stage. They are:

  • Pool A: Russia vs Samoa; Tue 24th Sep
  • Pool D: Georgia vs Uruguay; Sun 29th Sep
  • Pool C: Argentina vs the United States; Wed 9th Oct

Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium

The venue can host up to 16,187 people. Yes, it is small in numbers, but it also has a sad story behind it. Kamaishi Unosumai Recovery Memorial Stadium situated in Iwate Prefecture, Kamaishi City, built in the name of the fallen of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The reason why such a small stadium is included in the Rugby world cup is a way of contributing to the city. The stadium will host two games of the pool stage:

  • Pool C: Fiji vs Uruguay; Wed 25th Sep
  • Pool B: Namibia vs Canada; Sun 13th Oct

Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium

The venue is situated in Higashihirao Koen, Hakata-Ku Fukuoka, Japan. It has the capacity of 20,049 seats, not one of the biggest of Japan stadiums. Also home to Avispa Fukuoka club. Six teams will meet in three pool stage games with each other in this stadium in RWC 2019.

  • Pool B: Italy vs Canada; Thu 26th Sep
  • Pool C: France vs the United States; Wed 2nd Oct
  • Pool: Ireland vs Samoa; Sat 12th Oct

Kobe Misaki Stadium

This stadium has a removable roof and a capacity of 30,132 seats. Kobe Misaki Stadium is also called as Noevir Stadium situated at  Hyogo-Ku, Kobe, Japan. It had been opened for the spectators in 2001 and arrange various sporting events. It was also part of the FIFA World Cup 2002, as the host of 3 matches. The stadium will be hosting the four matches of the pool stage:

  • Pool C: England vs the United States; Thu 26th Sep
  • Pool A: Scotland vs Samoa; Mon 30th Sep
  • Pool A: Ireland vs Russia; Thu 3rd Oct
  • Pool B: South Africa vs Canada; Tue 8th Oct

Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa

If you drive 275 km from the capital of Japan, you will reach the 50,889 seat stadium, which held the quarter-final of the FIFA World Cup 2002 between England and Brazil. It’s situated at  Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The stadium will arrange the four games of the pool stage:

  • Pool A: Japan vs Ireland; Sat 28th Sep
  • Pool B: South Africa vs Italy; Fri 4th Oct
  • Pool A: Scotland vs Russia; Wed 9th Oct
  • Pool D: Australia vs Georgia; Fri 11th Oct

Oita Stadium

A big stadium, with 40,000 seats and also experienced in hosting heavy, important games during its existence, like 2002 FIFA World Cup. It is in Oita Prefecture, Kyushu Island which opened up in 2001. This is the Japan Rugby World Cup 2019 Venues which will host Five games such as three pool stage games and two quarter-finals game. They are:

  • Pool B: New Zealand vs Canada; Wed 2nd Oct
  • Pool D: Australia vs Uruguay; Sat 5th Oct
  • Pool D: Wales vs Fiji; Wed 9th Oct
  • 1st Quarter Finals: Pool C Winner vs Pool D Runner Up; Sat 19th Oct
  • 3rd Quarter Finals: Pool D Winner vs Pool C Runner Up; Sun 20th Oct

Kumamoto Stadium

The venue is located in a complex of sports. The capacity is around 32,000 seats and is used to host rugby matches. Kumamoto host two games of the pool stage. They are:

  • Pool C: France vs Tonga; Sun 6th Oct
  • Pool D: Wales vs Uruguay; Sun 13th Oct

Japan Rugby World Cup 2019 Venues Sum Up

There will be plenty of rugby played and I am sure that will be exciting. Characteristic of world cups is being unpredictable and always, always some team will surprise us all with its game-changing ability. In the though, is always the same, one winner who will win the gold medal and will write history forever.

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