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As the organisers marked three years to go in September, details emerged around the next big landmark en route to the start of the tournament, the pool draw. To that end, World Rugby and the Japan 2019 organising committee confirmed in November that the RWC 2019 pool draw would take place on 10 May, 2017 in Kyoto’s State Guest House. The iconic venue is a national symbol in Japan and has played host to globally important meetings, including hosting world leaders at the 2016 G7 summit. With excitement and anticipation building across Japan, the selection of Kyoto, the historical and cultural heart of Japan, reflects World Rugby and Japan Rugby 2019’s commitment to an event that is for the entire nation.In addition to Kyoto as pool draw host, the tournament comprises 12 host cities and a host of team camps, meaning the tournament will be within easy reach of communities the length and breadth of the host nation. While the host cities are all now known, the process for selecting team camps was also launched in 2016.Twelve of the 20 participating teams have already been determined with Argentina, Australia, England, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales qualifying directly after finishing in the top three of their pools at RWC 2015. The remaining eight teams will be determined via the global qualification process that kicked off in March 2016.Just four months after the RWC 2015 final in London, St Vincent and the Grenadines hosted Jamaica in Kingstown for the very first qualification match in the new cycle, a match that was played in the presence of the Webb Ellis Cup and was refereed by Nigel Owens, who took charge of that all-important game in Twickenham on 31 October, 2015.The process is now underway in each region with the first qualifiers set to emerge in 2017.It was a busy year for RWC 2019 announcements with a number of significant appointments being made for what will be the first Rugby World Cup in Asia, including International Games Broadcast Services (IGBS) as host broadcaster.Meanwhile, World Rugby has been pleased with progress around the organising committee’s hosting preparations.World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: “With the three years to go milestone having passed, we are satisfied with progress to date. From budgets to venue planning, tournament preparation is on track and the foundations are in place for a very special tournament.“Strong collaboration across all stakeholders, including the organising committee, national and local governments, driven by a clear vision, will be key to ensuring the tournament delivers a tangible and sustainable legacy of rugby participation growth in Japan.”With the wonderful memories of a record-breaking Rugby World Cup 2015 still fresh, Japan took over in earnest during 2016 as the next host of the game’s flagship tournament for what will be a game-changing event for the sport.FOUNDATIONS IN PLACE FOR A GAME–CHANGING RWC 201932 WORLD RUGBY YEAR IN REVIEW 2016INSPIRE | RUGBY WORLD CUP 2019
