The head of the Rugby World Cup "is confident" that Japan can make the first tournament to be held in Asia "a success," according to Andrew McKirdy of the JAPAN TIMES. A Rugby World Cup delegation including RWC Head Alan Gilpin spent a week "liaising with Japan 2019 organizers, four months after the 2015 tournament in England shattered attendance records and captured the world's attention." The Japanese public played its part in England '15’s success by setting a new TV viewing record of 25 million for the Brave Blossoms’ group-stage win over Samoa, and Gilpin "believes interest will continue to grow as Japan prepares to host the event in 2019." Gilpin said, "We know that the landscape of rugby union here in Japan is very different to England. We also know that the landscape for rugby here in Japan is different to how it was six months ago. There is an audience that is excited. Part of marketing for Rugby World Cup 2019 will be about showing the people of Japan that this is a big event." Japan's performance in England "sparked a wave of rugby fever in japan and made superstars of national team players such as Ayumu Goromaru and captain Michael Leitch." Japanese rugby is hoping to capitalize with the Tokyo-based Sunwolves debuting in Super Rugby on Saturday, and Gilpin "is happy with what he sees." Gilpin: "We're very excited and pleased about the progress that is being made here in Japan. In many respects, the preparation here is ahead of the preparation at the same stage of previous World Cups" (JAPAN TIMES, 2/23).
