Dates announced for next World Cup

The 2019 World Cup in Japan will open on 20 September in Tokyo and end with the final in Yokohama on 2 November.

This was announced by World Rugby on Tuesday along with the unveiling of the logo for the next tournament.

The logo bears two of Japan’s most recognisable symbols, the rising sun and Mt Fuji, and is the first World Cup emblem since the International Rugby Board rebranded itself last year as World Rugby.

'We couldn’t be more pleased with how England 2015 has succeeded. We believe it has succeeded at every level,' said Brett Gosper, the managing director of Rugby World Cup Limited.

'Possibly the greatest story of 2015 has been the success of the Japanese team. The Japan-South Africa game, I’m sure they’ll make Hollywood films of that one day as they did with Miracle on Ice. This has been the most competitive World Cup ever and I think the performance of the Japanese inspired all the other tier-two teams so we had the smallest winning margins in World Cup history.

'I’m sure 2019 will break records in some areas but it will be ground-breaking. It will look very different, feel very different and will sound different to any World Cup we have ever had.'

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