Jump to content

Japan at the Rugby World Cup

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Japan playing Australia at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Map of nations best results, excluding nations which unsuccessfully participated in qualifying tournaments

The Japan national team have competed in every Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987. They are so far the only team to reach the Rugby World Cup through Asian regional qualifying. In 2019, they progressed to the quarterfinals for the first time in their participation,[1] making them the first Asian team to do so in the tournament.

Their best performance was in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Japan beat South Africa 34–32 in their first match of pool play, in what was described as the "greatest Rugby World Cup shock ever".[2][3] They went on to beat Samoa and the United States in pool play. They won three games out of four in pool play, the same as Scotland and South Africa, but unlike the other two, Japan did not get any bonus points, so the other two qualified for the quarter-finals.

Japan's first victory was a 52–8 win over Zimbabwe at the 1991 tournament under coach Hiroaki Shukuzawa. Their worst defeat came at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, when they lost to New Zealand by 145–17, in a defeat blamed for setting the development of rugby union in Japan back by several years. Since then, in the 2003 World Cup, held in Australia, Japan coached by Shogo Mukai was hailed as the best of the so-called 'minnow' nations,[citation needed] gaining many new Japanese and overseas fans in the process, though the team still failed to win any games. In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Japan managed a last-minute conversion to draw with Canada, and avoided coming last in Pool B. They did not win any games however, and did not reach the knockout stage of the tournament.

Japan hosted the tournament for the first time at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals.

By position

[edit]
Rugby World Cup record Qualification
Year Round Pld. W D L PF PA Squad Head coach Pos. Pld. W D L PF PA
1987 Pool stage 3 0 0 3 48 123 Squad K. Miyaji Invited
1991 3 1 0 2 77 87 Squad H. Shukuzawa 2nd 3 2 0 1 65 63
1995 3 0 0 3 55 252 Squad O. Koyabu 1st 4 4 0 0 252 28
1999 3 0 0 3 36 140 Squad S. Hirao 1st 3 3 0 0 221 25
2003 4 0 0 4 79 163 Squad S. Mukai 1st 4 4 0 0 420 47
2007 4 0 1 3 64 210 Squad J. Kirwan 1st 6 6 0 0 379 60
2011 4 0 1 3 69 184 Squad 1st 4 4 0 0 326 30
2015 4 3 0 1 98 100 Squad E. Jones 1st 4 4 0 0 316 8
2019 Quarter-finals 5 4 0 1 118 88 Squad J. Joseph Automatic qualification
2023 Pool stage 4 2 0 2 109 107 Squad
2027 To be determined
2031 To be determined
Total Quarter-finals 37 10 2 25 753 1,454 28 27 0 1 1,979 261
  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place Home venue

By match

[edit]

1987

[edit]
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T Pts Qualification
 Australia 3 3 0 0 108 41 +67 18 6 Knockout stage
 England 3 2 0 1 100 32 +68 15 4
 United States 3 1 0 2 39 99 −60 5 2
 Japan 3 0 0 3 48 123 −75 7 0
Source: [citation needed]
24 May 1987
Japan 18–21[4] United States
Try: Taumoefolau (2)
Yoshinaga
Pen: Yoshinaga
Kutsuki
Try: Nelson
Purcell
Lambert
Con: Nelson (3)
Pen: Nelson
Ballymore, Brisbane
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Guy Maurette (France)

30 May 1987
England 60–7[5] Japan
Try: Harrison (3)
Underwood (2)
Salmon
Richards
Redman
Rees
Simms
Con: Webb (7)
Pen: Webb (2)
Try: Miyamoto
Pen: Matsuo
Concord Oval, Sydney
Attendance: 4,893
Referee: René Hourquet (France)

3 June 1987
Australia 42–23[6] Japan
Try: Slack (2)
Burke (2)
Tuynman
Grigg
Hartill
Campese
Con: Lynagh (5)
Try: Kutsuki (2)
Fujita
Con: Okidoi
Pen: Okidoi (2)
Drop: Okidoi
Concord Oval, Sydney
Attendance: 8,785
Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

1991

[edit]
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
 Scotland 3 3 0 0 122 36 +86 6
 Ireland 3 2 0 1 102 51 +51 4
 Japan 3 1 0 2 77 87 −10 2
 Zimbabwe 3 0 0 3 31 158 −127 0
Source: [citation needed]
5 October 1991 (1991-10-05)
Scotland 47–9 Japan
Tries: S. Hastings, Stanger, Chalmers, White, Penalty Try, Tukalo, G. Hastings
Con: G. Hastings (5)
Pen: G. Hastings (2), Chalmers
Tries: Hosokawa
Con: Hosokawa
Drop: Hosokawa
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

9 October 1991 (1991-10-09)
Ireland 32–16 Japan
Tries: Mannion (2), O’Hara, Staples
Con: Keyes (2)
Pen: Keyes (4)
Tries: Hayashi, Kajihara, Yoshida
Con: Hosokawa (2)
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Referee: Laikini Colati (Fiji)

14 October 1991 (1991-10-14)
Japan 52–8 Zimbabwe
Tries: Yoshida (2), Mashuho (2), Kutsuki (2), Horikoshi, Luaiufi, Matsuo
Con: Hosokawa (2)
Pen: Hosokawa (4)
Tries: Tsimba, Nguruve
Ravenhill, Belfast
Referee: Rene Hourquet (France)

1995

[edit]
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
 New Zealand 3 3 0 0 222 45 +177 9
 Ireland 3 2 0 1 93 94 −1 7
 Wales 3 1 0 2 89 68 +21 5
 Japan 3 0 0 3 55 252 −197 3
Source: [citation needed]
27 May 1995 (1995-05-27)
Japan 10–57 Wales
Tries: Osamu Ota (2)Tries: Gareth Thomas (3), Ieuan Evans (2), Andrew Moore, Hemi Taylor
Con: Neil Jenkins (5)
Pen: Neil Jenkins (4)
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Attendance: 12 000
Referee: Efrahim Sklar (Argentina)

31 May 1995 (1995-05-31)
Ireland 50–28 Japan
Tries: Neil Francis, Simon Geoghegan, David Corkery, Eddie Halvey, Niall Hogan
Con: Paul Burke (6)
Pen: Paul Burke
Tries: Sinali Latu, Ko Izawa, Seiji Hirao, Masanori Takura
Con: Yoshihito Yoshida (4)
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Attendance: 15 000
Referee: Stef Neethling (South Africa)

4 June 1995 (1995-06-04)
Japan 17–145 New Zealand
Tries: Hiroyuki Kajihara (2)
Con: Keiji Hirose (2)
Pen: Keiji Hirose
Tries: Marc Ellis (6), Eric Rush (3), Jeff Wilson (3), Robin Brooke (2), Glen Osborne (2), Richard Loe, Simon Culhane, Paul Henderson, Craig Dowd, Alama Ieremia
Con: Simon Culhane (20)
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Attendance: 17 000
Referee: George Gadjovic (Canada)

1999

[edit]
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
 Wales 3 2 0 1 118 71 +47 7
 Samoa 3 2 0 1 97 72 +25 7
 Argentina 3 2 0 1 83 51 +32 7
 Japan 3 0 0 3 36 140 −104 3
Source: [citation needed]
3 October 1999 (1999-10-03)
Samoa 43–9 Japan
Tries: Brian Lima (2), Steven So'oialo (2), Silao Leaega
Con: Silao Leaega (3)
Pen: Silao Leaega (4)
Pen: Keiji Hirose (3)
Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)


16 October 1999 (1999-10-16)
Argentina 33–12 Japan
Tries: Diego Albanese, Agustín Pichot
Con: Felipe Contepomi
Pen: Gonzalo Quesada (7)
Pen: Keiji Hirose (4)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

2003

[edit]
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD BP Pts Qualification
 France 4 4 0 0 204 70 +134 4 20 Quarter-finals
 Scotland 4 3 0 1 102 97 +5 2 14
 Fiji 4 2 0 2 98 114 −16 2 10
 United States 4 1 0 3 86 125 −39 2 6
 Japan 4 0 0 4 79 163 −84 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
11 October 2003 (2003-10-11)
Scotland 32–11 Japan
Tries: Paterson (2), Grimes, Taylor, Danielli
Con: Paterson, Townsend
Pen: Paterson
Tries: Onozawa
Pen: Hirose (2)
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
Attendance: 19,170
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

18 October 2003 (2003-10-18)
France 51–29 Japan
Tries: Michalak, Rougerie (2), Pelous, Dominici, Crenca
Con: Michalak (5), Merceron
Pen: Michalak (3)
Tries: Konia, Ohata
Con: Kurihara (2)
Pen: Kurihara (5)
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
Attendance: 21,309
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

23 October 2003 (2003-10-23)
Fiji 41–13 Japan
Tries: Tuilevu (2), Ligairi (2), Vunibaka
Con: Little (2)
Pen: Little (4)
Tries: Miller
Con: Miller
Pen: Miller
Drop: Miller
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
Attendance: 17,269
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)

27 October 2003 (2003-10-27)
Japan 26–39 United States
Tries: Kurihara, Ohata
Con: Kurihara (2)
Pen: Kurihara (4)
Tries: Hercus, Eloff, Schubert, van Zyl, Khasigian
Con: Hercus (4)
Pen: Hercus (2)
Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Attendance: 19,653
Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)

2007

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD B Pts Qualification
1  Australia 4 4 0 0 215 41 +174 4 20 Qualified for the quarter-finals
2  Fiji 4 3 0 1 114 136 −22 3 15
3  Wales 4 2 0 2 168 105 +63 4 12 Eliminated, automatic qualification for RWC 2011
4  Japan 4 0 1 3 64 210 −146 1 3
5  Canada 4 0 1 3 51 120 −69 0 2
Source: [citation needed]
8 September 2007
15:45
Australia 91–3 Japan
Tries: Sharpe 18' m
Elsom (3) 24' c, 34' m, 41' c
Ashley-Cooper 46' c
Latham (2) 53' c, 72' c
Barnes (2) 57' c, 75' c
Mitchell (2) 59' c, 66' c
Smith 62' m
Freier 80+' c
Con: Mortlock (7/10)
Giteau (3/3)
Pen: Mortlock (2/2) 10', 16'
ReportPen: K. Ono (1/1) 38'
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
Attendance: 40,043
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

12 September 2007
18:00
Japan 31–35 Fiji
Tries: Thompson (2) 51' c, 78' c
Soma 62' m
Con: Onishi (2/3)
Pen: Onishi (4/4) 18', 30', 40+', 43'
ReportTries: Qera (2) 36' c, 49' c
Rabeni 56' m
Leawere 71' c
Con: Little (3/4)
Pen: Little (3/3) 4', 55', 74'
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 34,500
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

20 September 2007
21:00
Wales 72–18 Japan
Tries: A. W. Jones 11' c
Hook 24' c
T. R. Thomas 31' c
Morgan 40+' m
Phillips 42' c
S. Williams (2) 48' m, 80' m
D. James 52' c
Cooper 59' c
M. Williams (2) 64' c, 74' c
Con: S. Jones (5/7)
Sweeney (2/4)
Pen: S. Jones (1/1) 23'
ReportTries: Endo 19' m
Onozawa 57' c
Con: Robins (1/1)
Pen: Onishi (2/2) 4', 37'
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 35,245
Referee: Joël Jutge (France)

25 September 2007
18:00
Canada 12–12 Japan
Tries: Riordan 48' m
Van der Merwe 65' c
Con: Pritchard (1/1)
ReportTries: Endo 12' m
Taira 80+' c
Con: Onishi (1/2)
Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
Attendance: 33,810
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

2011

[edit]

Japan lost to New Zealand, Tonga and France, but managed to draw with Canada.

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1  New Zealand 4 4 0 0 240 49 +191 36 4 20 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup
2  France 4 2 0 2 124 96 +28 13 3 11
3  Tonga 4 2 0 2 80 98 −18 7 1 9 Eliminated but qualified for 2015 Rugby World Cup
4  Canada 4 1 1 2 82 168 −86 9 0 6
5  Japan 4 0 1 3 69 184 −115 8 0 2
Source: [citation needed]
10 September 2011
France 47–21 Japan
Tries: Pierre 4' c
Trinh-Duc 11' c
Clerc 33' m
Naller 70' c
Pape 76' c
Parra 81' m
Con: Yachvili (4/6)
Pen: Yachvili (3/3) 21', 28', 66'
ReportTries: Arlidge (2) 30' m, 48' c
Con: Arlidge (1/2)
Pen: Arlidge (3/4) 17', 39', 57'
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland

16 September 2011
New Zealand 83–7 Japan
Tries: Smith 3' c
Kahui (2) 15' m, 44' c
Kaino 21' m
Mealamu 29' c
Ellis 33' c
Slade 35' c
Williams (2) 50' c, 78' c
Toeava 55' c
Hore 59' m
Nonu 61' m
Thomson 76' c
Con: Slade (9/13)
ReportTries: Onozawa 57' c
Con: Williams (1/1)
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

21 September 2011
Tonga 31–18 Japan
Tries: Ma'afu 6' m
Lokotui 14' c
Vainikolo 53' c
Con: Morath (2/3)
Pen: Morath (4/4) 29', 31', 49', 67'
ReportTries: Hatakeyama 13' m
Leitch 25' m
Tupuailai 62' m
Con: Arlidge (0/3)
Pen: Webb (1/1) 39'
Okara Park, Whangārei

27 September 2011
Canada 23–23 Japan
Tries: Van der Merwe 6' c
Mackenzie 43' m
Monro 74' m
Con: Pritchard (1/1)
Monro (0/2)
Pen: Monro (2/3) 63', 78'
ReportTries: Horie 9' c
Endo 39' c
Tupuailai 62' m
Con: Arlidge (2/2)
Pen: Arlidge (3/3) 23', 65', 72'
McLean Park, Napier

2015

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1  South Africa 4 3 0 1 176 56 +120 23 4 16 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
2  Scotland 4 3 0 1 136 93 +43 14 2 14
3  Japan 4 3 0 1 98 100 −2 9 0 12 Eliminated but qualified for 2019 Rugby World Cup
4  Samoa 4 1 0 3 69 124 −55 7 2 6
5  United States 4 0 0 4 50 156 −106 5 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
19 September 2015
16:45
South Africa 32–34 Japan
Try: Louw 18' c
B. Du Plessis 33' m
De Jager 44' c
Strauss 62' c
Con: Lambie (2/3) 19', 45'
Pollard (1/1) 63'
Pen: Lambie (1/1) 57'
Pollard (1/1) 73'
ReportTry: Leitch 30' c
Goromaru 69' c
Hesketh 80' m
Con: Goromaru (2/3) 31', 70'
Pen: Goromaru (5/6) 8', 43', 49', 53', 60'
Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton
Attendance: 29,290
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
23 September 2015
14:30
Scotland 45–10 Japan
Try: Hardie 48' m
Bennett (2) 56' c, 69 c
Seymour 64' c
Russell 74' c
Con: Laidlaw (4/5) 57', 65', 70', 75'
Pen: Laidlaw (4/5) 3', 12', 18', 20'
ReportTry: Mafi 15' c
Con: Goromaru (1/1) 16'
Pen: Goromaru (1/3) 46'
Kingsholm, Gloucester
Attendance: 14,354
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
3 October 2015
14:30
Samoa 5–26 Japan
Try: Perez 64' m
Con: T. Pisi (0/1)
ReportTry: Penalty try 24' c
Yamada 40' c
Con: Goromaru (2/2) 24', 40'
Pen: Goromaru (4/6) 8', 34', 48', 59'
Stadium mk, Milton Keynes
Attendance: 29,019
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
11 October 2015
20:00
United States 18–28 Japan
Try: Ngwenya 24' m
Wyles 71' c
Con: MacGinty (1/2) 72'
Pen: MacGinty (2/2) 5', 55'
ReportTry: Matsushima 7' c
Fujita 28' c
Mafi 62' m
Con: Goromaru (2/3) 9', 29'
Pen: Goromaru (3/3) 33', 44', 77'
Kingsholm, Gloucester
Attendance: 14,517
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

2019

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1  Japan 4 4 0 0 115 62 +53 13 3 19 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
2  Ireland 4 3 0 1 121 27 +94 18 4 16
3  Scotland 4 2 0 2 119 55 +64 16 3 11 Eliminated but qualified for 2023 Rugby World Cup
4  Samoa 4 1 0 3 58 128 −70 8 1 5
5  Russia 4 0 0 4 19 160 −141 1 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
20 September 2019
19:45 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Japan 30–10 Russia
Try: Matsushima (3) 12' m, 39' c, 69' c
Labuschagné 47' m
Con: Tamura (1/3) 40'
Matsuda (1/1) 71'
Pen: Tamura (2/2) 44', 64'
ReportTry: Golosnitski 5' c
Con: Kushnarev (1/1) 6'
Pen: Kushnarev (1/1) 61'
Tokyo Stadium, Chōfu
Attendance: 45,745
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
28 September 2019
16:15 JST (UTC+09)
Japan 19–12 Ireland (1 BP)
Try: Fukuoka 59' c
Con: Tamura (1/1) 61'
Pen: Tamura (4/6) 18', 34', 40', 72'
ReportTry: Ringrose 14' m
Kearney 21' c
Con: Carty (1/2) 22'
Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Fukuroi
Attendance: 47,813
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
5 October 2019
19:30 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Japan 38–19 Samoa
Try: Lafaele 28' c
Himeno 53' c
Fukuoka 76' m
Matsushima 80+5' c
Con: Tamura (3/4) 29', 55', 80+7'
Pen: Tamura (4/5) 3', 8', 24', 51'
ReportTry: Taefu 73' c
Con: Taefu (1/1) 74'
Pen: Taefu (4/5) 10', 15', 34', 45'
City of Toyota Stadium, Toyota
Attendance: 39,695
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
13 October 2019
19:45 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Japan 28–21 Scotland (1 BP)
Try: Matsushima 18' c
Inagaki 26' c
Fukuoka (2) 40' c, 43' c
Con: Tamura (4/4) 20', 27', 40+2', 44'
ReportTry: Russell 7' c
Nel 50' c
Fagerson 55' c
Con: Laidlaw (2/2) 8', 51'
Russell (1/1) 56'
International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama
Attendance: 67,666
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)

Quarter-final
20 October 2019
19:15 JST (UTC+09)
Japan 3–26 South Africa
Pen: Tamura (1/1) 20'ReportTry: Mapimpi (2) 4' m, 70' m
de Klerk 66' c
Con: Pollard (1/3) 66'
Pen: Pollard (3/4) 44', 49', 64'
Tokyo Stadium, Chōfu
Attendance: 48,831
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

2023

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA B Pts Qualification
1  England 4 4 0 0 150 39 +111 17 3 2 18 Advance to knockout stage, and
qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup
2  Argentina 4 3 0 1 127 69 +58 15 5 2 14
3  Japan 4 2 0 2 109 107 +2 12 14 1 9 Qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup
4  Samoa 4 1 0 3 92 75 +17 11 7 3 7
5  Chile 4 0 0 4 27 215 −188 4 30 0 0
Source: World Rugby
Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers
10 September 2023
13:00 CEST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) Japan 42–12 Chile
Try: Fakatava (2) 8' c, 40+1' c
Naikabula 30' c
Leitch 53' c
Nakamura 71' c
Dearns 79' c
Con: Matsuda (6/6) 10', 31', 40+2', 54', 73', 80+1'
ReportTry: Fernández 6' c
A. Escobar 48' m
Con: Videla (1/2) 7'
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 30,187
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)[7]
17 September 2023
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) England 34–12 Japan
Try: Ludlam 24' c
Lawes 56' c
Steward 66' c
Marchant 80+1' c
Con: Ford (4/4) 26', 56', 67', 80+1'
Pen: Ford (2/3) 4', 42'
ReportPen: Matsuda (4/4) 15', 23', 32', 54'
Allianz Riviera, Nice
Attendance: 30,500
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)[7]
28 September 2023
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Japan 28–22 Samoa (1 BP)
Try: Labuschagné 13' c
Leitch 32' c
Himeno 48' m
Con: Matsuda (2/3) 15', 33'
Pen: Matsuda (3/3) 28', 56', 75'
ReportTry: S. Lam 38' m
Paia'aua 65' c
Leali'ifano 78' c
Con: Leali'ifano (2/3) 66', 79'
Pen: Leuila (1/2) 25'
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 31,794
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)[7]
8 October 2023
13:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Japan 27–39 Argentina (1 BP)
Try: Fakatava 16' c
Saitō 38' c
Naikabula 65' c
Con: Matsuda (3/3) 17', 39', 67'
Pen: Matsuda (1/1) 52'
Drop: Lemeki (1/1) 56'
ReportTry: Chocobares 2' c
M. Carreras (3) 28' m, 46' c, 68' c
Boffelli 58' c
Con: Boffelli (3/4) 2', 47', 60'
Sánchez (1/1) 70'
Pen: Boffelli (1/2) 35'
Sánchez (1/1) 75'
Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Attendance: 33,624
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)[7]

Hosting

[edit]

At a special IRB meeting held in Dublin on 28 July 2009, Japan was announced as the host for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[8]

List of planned stadia

[edit]

In addition to the nine venues located in Japan, one venue each from Singapore and Hong Kong have also been proposed to host five matches respectively.[9]

References

[edit]
  • Davies, Gerald (2004) The History of the Rugby World Cup (Sanctuary Publishing Ltd, (ISBN 1860746020)
  • Farr-Jones, Nick, (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup, Australian Post Corporation, (ISBN 0-642-36811-2)
  1. ^ rugbybworldcup.com. "Joyous scenes as Japan win thriller to make quarter-finals". www.worldrugby.org. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
  2. ^ Kitson, Robert (September 19, 2015). "Japan beat South Africa in greatest Rugby World Cup shock ever". The Guardian. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  3. ^ "South Africa 32 Japan 34, match report: Outstanding Japan pull off the greatest upset in World Cup history". Daily Telegraph. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  4. ^ Japan vs United States 1987 World Rugby
  5. ^ England vs Japan 1987 World Rugby
  6. ^ Australia vs Japan 1987 World Rugby
  7. ^ a b c d "Rugby World Cup 2023 pool stage". World Rugby. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  8. ^ "England will host 2015 World Cup". BBC. 2009-07-28. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  9. ^ RWC 2015/2019: 15 Main Topics & Venues of the Bid of Japan , Japan Rugby Football Union