FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - IRB Rugby World Cup 2019 Press Conference - The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, London - 27/10/15 Brett Gosper, Rugby World Cup Limited Managing Director during the press conference Action Images via Reuters / Paul Childs Livepic
TOKYO (Reuters) - Nine years after the bold decision to take their showpiece tournament out of the sport's traditional heartlands for the first time, World Rugby are confident Japan will vindicate the gamble by delivering a top class 2019 World Cup.
The hosts face Russia in the opening match of the tournament at Tokyo Stadium on Sept. 20 next year and the Japanese capital will mark the start of the 12-month countdown to Asia's first Rugby World Cup later on Thursday.
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