Asia

Rugby World Cup ticket sales to launch in January

Tickets for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan are set to go on sale starting in January 2018, more than a year and a half ahead of the event.

According to World Rugby, the global governing body of rugby union, Japan is on track to become the ‘most accessible’ Rugby World Cup so far with the launch of the ticketing programme, with at least 1.8 million tickets available for the first edition of the tournament in Asia.

A three-phase process will begin on January 1. Child tickets will start at ¥1,000 (£67/€70/$88), while adult tickets start at ¥2,019, with 900,000 tickets priced at under ¥15,000 as organisers aim to attract new fans to the sport across the nationwide spread of 12 host cities.

More than 60,000 fans have already registered to create a ticketing account.

Fans can secure tickets via the public sales process managed by Japan Rugby 2019 or via the official travel and hospitality programmes managed by Sports Travel and Hospitality (STH) Limited.

Phase Two, comprising individual sales for priority groups and hospitality, starts on February 1. Phase Three starts in September 2018 and marks the date when tickets go on general sale, one year ahead of the event.

Japan Rugby 2019 chief executive Akira Shimazu, said: “We are today launching a ticketing programme that will provide all of Japan with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage with one of the world’s biggest and best-loved major sports event, and the biggest sporting event in Japan for a generation.

“Our ambition is for the tournament to be a celebration of rugby, friendship and Japan, encouraging more people to support the game, and that ambition is reflected in an attractive and accessible ticketing programme.

“We have a range of tickets for every budget and a sales process that will ensure that host city residents, the Japan rugby family and global rugby family have ample opportunity to experience this very special event in a very special nation.”

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont added: “This announcement represents a fantastic opportunity for the people of Japan and fans around the world to experience what promises to be a very special and ground-breaking Rugby World Cup in 2019. With the match schedule also announced this is the day that they can start to plan. There are affordable and accessible options to suit every need.”