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The International Rugby Board Council has awarded Rugby World Cup 2015 to England and Rugby World Cup 2019 to Japan! Congratulations to the people at the Japan Rugby Football Union and all their hard work over the past eight months to secure this bid.

This will be the first such world cup to be held in Asia. Good luck with the preparation as a host nation!

After a month long series of matches. The final will take place tomorrow.

Here is link to schedules and results.
Fixtures and Results

The final will pit New Zealand against England. Below are details

New Zealand vs England
June 22nd (Sun) 15:00
Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground

There will be a match between the semi-finalists before the above match.

Australia vs. South Africa
June 22nd (Sun) 13:00
Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground

The ticketing structure for the Championship, which kicks off on June 5, starts at just 300 Japanese Yen for children and 1,300 Yen for adults with tournament packages available by venue or team.

Tickets can be purchased by following this link>> <http://www.e-tix.jp/jrfu/english/ticket_jrfu_en.html>

View the IRB TOSHIBA Junior World Championship 2009 schedule>> <http://eng.jwc2009.jp/>

With the tournament being played across four regional venues in Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka and Nagoya, the IRB TOSHIBA Junior World Championship has the unique ability to engage fans from each of the host cities through the blend of a competitive ticketing policy, a dedicated legacy programme, double-header match days, a strong appetite for the Game and the hosting of 16 international teams.

“Both the Japan Rugby Football Union and the IRB believe that the tournament should represent an opportunity to reach out to new fans within the Japanese sporting community. We believe that this ticketing structure will serve to open the door to international Rugby across the four regions as part of a dedicated tournament legacy programme,” said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

“We have been impressed with the high level of planning and dedication undertaken by the Japan Rugby Football Union in their commitment to host the best ever IRB Age Grade tournament. Their reward, I’m sure, will be an event of high quality on and off the pitch and a lasting legacy that will boost the development of Rugby across Japan.”

Underwritten by the commercial success of Rugby World Cup, the annual IRB Junior World Championship, along with its sister event the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy, plays a key player, coach and referee development role.

The likes of Morgan Parra, Leigh Halfpenny, David Pocock, Mathieu Bastareaud and Quade Cooper have all graduated from last year’s IRB Junior World Championship to make their mark on the world stage and Japan is looking forward to welcoming the future stars of the international Game in June.

“The Japan Rugby Football Union looks forward to the tournament in June and an event that will help to raise the profile of the Game in Japan, reach out to new audiences and reinforce the values that makes the Game so appealing to the Japanese public,” said Japan Rugby Football Union Chairman and Vice President Nobby Mashimo.

“I am sure that those visiting from abroad to watch the Championship will be treated to a warm welcome and three weeks of compelling and highly-competitive Rugby.”

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Guitarist Stefan Schmitz wil perform live in Tokyo. Program is a fantastic mixture of classical pieces, Samba, Tango and one piece with variations about a theme from a Rossini opera. Stefan Schmitz is one of the top classical guitarists in the world and won many prizes in international competitions like Rome, Rust, Kutna Hora etc. His CD was featured in the Lufthansa Business Class selection and he is touring around the world.

Concert at Oakwood Residence Midtown
3 June 2009 – 6.30 pm open, 7.00 pm start

Concert at Salon Tessera
5 June 2009 – 6.30 pm open, 7.00 pm start

Ticket sales at christian.schmitz@aventa-japan.com (only by email)
Pre-sales 4,000 JPY incl one drink, 5,000 JPY on concert day

Website: www.gitarrenzauber.de

Here are some videos of Mr. Schmitz performing.

Roland Dyens – Tango en Skai

Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco (with Orchestra)

Silvius Leopold Weiss, Bouree Posato

TOKYO (JUN 04) – Japan to play Super 14 Queensland Reds as warmup for IRB Pacific Nations Cup

Japan flew out to Australia on Wednesday to hold a 10-day training camp ahead of the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup.

The camp culminates with a game against Queensland Reds on June 10 at Brisbane’s famous Ballymore ground.

“We needed a game outside of Japan because of IRB TOSHIBA Junior World Championship 2009,” said Japan coach John Kirwan.

“We normally play the Classic All Blacks as leading up to Pacific Nations Cup we need to get tested defensively.”

Queensland Reds coach Phil Mooney, meanwhile, named 18 contracted Reds players in an extended 27-man squad for match.

The Reds lineup is a mix of Reds, academy and club players not involved with the Wallabies or Australia’s Under 20 campaign.

“We’ve got an exciting blend of contracted players and club players,” Mooney said in a press release.

“In the forwards we’ve got most of our contracted forwards available and in the backs, due to injuries and Wallaby selection, we’ve been able to select a few club players.”

Mooney said the match was the perfect opportunity for some of the younger players to gain experience in a professional environment.

“This is an opportunity to play against an international team and it is a great honour for us,” he said.

“These days you don’t get to play against international opposition that often and even on development tours you generally play against other provincial sides.”

Kirwan is hoping the game will bridge the gap between the recent Asian Five Nations and the more physically demanding Pacific tournament.

“Both sides are young teams facing each other. Leading up to Rugby World Cup 2011, this is the sort of interaction we need,” he said.

“This is different from the team we fielded against Singapore. There were different parameters and different combinations then.

“It is a very important year for us making sure we get some of these young guys out there and tough it out like they did against America in November.”

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