Typhoon Hagibis Impact on Rugby World Cup 2019 Matches

World Rugby and the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee Release

World Rugby and the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee have announced an update regarding the predicted impact of Typhoon Hagibis on this weekend’s pool matches. This includes the cancellation of two matches on safety grounds.

TOKYO, 10 Oct – After extensive evaluation, World Rugby and the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee have announced an update regarding the predicted impact of Typhoon Hagibis on this weekend’s Rugby World Cup 2019 pool matches. This includes the decision to cancel matches on safety grounds.

Based on the latest detailed information from the tournament’s independent weather experts, Hagibis is predicted to be the biggest typhoon of the 2019 season and is highly likely to cause considerable disruption in Tokyo, Yokohama and City of Toyota areas throughout Saturday, including likely public transport shutdown or disruption.

As a result, World Rugby and the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee have taken the difficult, but right decision to cancel matches in the affected areas on safety grounds. The impacted teams have been informed and are understanding. For matches that do not go ahead as scheduled, two points will be awarded to each team in line with tournament rules.

It is an exceptional, complex and rapidly evolving situation and team and public safety is the number one priority. This has been central in all decision-making in partnership with the tournament’s weather information experts, host cities, venues, and teams.

Based on the latest detailed weather information, the following update is provided:

Friday, 11 October

Pool D match between Australia and Georgia in Shizuoka at 19:15 JST to be played as scheduled

Saturday, 12 October

Pool A match between Ireland and Samoa in Fukuoka at 19:45 JST to be played as scheduled
Pool B match between New Zealand and Italy to be canceled
Pool C match between England and France to be canceled

The decision to cancel matches has not been taken lightly and has been made in the best interests of the public, team, tournament personnel and volunteer safety, based on expert advice and detailed weather information. While we have extensively explored all options, public and team safety was our utmost priority as well as ensuring a consistent, fair and equitable outcome for all teams. All fans with tickets for a canceled match will receive a full refund for the face value of their match tickets.

Sunday, 13 October

Every effort is being made to ensure Sunday’s matches will be played as scheduled. A thorough assessment of venues will take place after the typhoon has passed before a final decision is made on Sunday morning.

Based on the advice of government authorities and experts, World Rugby and the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee are advising fans in the Tokyo, Yokohama, and City of Toyota areas to stay indoors on Saturday, not to travel and to keep monitoring the official Rugby World Cup 2019 digital and social channels, including the RWC 2019 Fan Information Twitter handle @Japan2019_ENG for regular updates.

World Rugby Chief Operating Officer and Tournament Director Alan Gilpin said when addressing the media: “This is a complex and dynamic situation which we have been monitoring extremely closely with the assistance of our weather information experts. We are now in a position to accurately predict the likely impact of Typhoon Hagibis on Rugby World Cup fixtures this weekend.

“While making every possible effort to put in place a contingency plan that would enable all of Saturday’s matches to be played, it would be grossly irresponsible to leave teams, fans, volunteers and other tournament personnel exposed during what is predicted to be a severe typhoon.

“As a result, we have taken the decision to cancel some matches in order to ensure the safety of all involved. It is the right thing to do and comes with the support of all stakeholders, including the teams.

“We fully appreciate that England, France, New Zealand, and Italy fans will be disappointed, but we trust they will appreciate that their safety must come first. They will be entitled to a full refund on their match tickets.

“Our message for all fans in Japan for Rugby World Cup is to heed all official advice, stay indoors throughout Saturday and do not attempt to travel on the day.”

Italy Reaction

Italy coach Conor O’Shea says the cancellation of the team’s match against New Zealand is a tough break for his players.

The Azzuri will end the Rugby World Cup 2019 having played only three of their four group matches – and miss their chance for redemption against the reigning champions.

Italy’s match against New Zealand was canceled on Thursday because forecasts say that Typhoon Hagibis will hit the Tokyo area on Saturday.

They needed either a win while denying the defending champions any bonus points; or a win with a points difference of 58 points if both teams claimed a bonus point, in order to reach the knockouts.

Italy has not beaten the All Blacks in 14 attempts, but O’Shea could not hide his frustration that mother nature had denied them even the chance to try.

The link is above for the entire article.

England

The match, due to take place in Yokohama on Saturday, will now be declared a scoreless draw with each team receiving two match points.

Both teams had already qualified for the quarter-finals with England now finishing top of the group has recorded a four-try bonus point in each of their three previous games to France’s one.

England will now face the runner-up in Group D, either Wales or Australia, in Oita in the quarter-finals on Saturday 19 October.

New Zealand v Italy has also been canceled, while a decision on Sunday’s games will be made on Sunday morning.

For further details visit www.rugbyworldcup.com.

New Zealand & France

Both New Zeland and France have made releases of the cancellation of their Saturday matches with the official announcement information from World Rugby and the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee that is found above.

Comments

As the result of New Zealand vs Italy match being canceled, New Zealand tops Pool B with 16 points, South Africa has 15, Italy qualifies for the Rugby World Cup in 2023 with 12 points, with Namibia and Canada with zero.

Decisions about the Sunday match between Namibia and Canada will be made that morning after an assessment is made regarding the impact of Typhoon Hagibis.

The opponents for the quarterfinals for New Zealand and South Africa will be determined on Sunday after the conclusion of the Saturday match between Ireland and Samoa and the Sunday match between Japan and Scotland.

The cancellation of the match between England and France has England topping Pool C with 17 points, France with 15 points, Argentina qualifying for the Rugby World Cup in 2023 with 11 points, Tonga with 1 point, and the USA zero.

Decisions about the Sunday match between the USA and Tonga will be made that morning after an assessment is made regarding the impact of Typhoon Hagibis.

England and France will face Wales or Australia in the quarterfinals.

The Pool D seeding depends on the outcome of the Friday match between Australia and Georgia and the Sunday match between Wales and Uruguay. The qualification for the Rugby World Cup in 2023 is also impacted by the Friday match. A Georgia win would mean qualifying for the RWC in 2023, while a loss would mean that Fiji qualifies.