Rugby World cup 2019
Tokyo- Japan
The eyes of the world were on Japan for the Rugby World Cup and we were there to soak it all in! Taking the Planet Sport Rugby Podcast on the road, we spoke to countless fans about the unfolding drama through out the tournament, as well as immersing ourselves in some traditional Japanese culture, see some of our experiences below:
“It was quite amazing how fans from all over the globe came together to interact and watch the Rugby World Cup with each other, there was no friction, no tribe-mentality, everyone had the upmost respect for one another and their number one goal was to just have a great time! We spoke to countless Japanese fans who didn't follow Rugby, and didn't even know the rules, but got caught up in the frenzy of the tournament! It was great to see the locals embracing the sport and this has been helped massively by the performance of the Japan team, the Brave Blossoms!”
“Tom and I saw many kids playing Rugby in playgrounds and parks, they had football shirts on but were now playing the sport that they had seen on the TV! This is such a new reality for Japan and gives us hope that the Rugby legacy will be a strong one, long after the World Cup has come and gone.'“