Stars back Japan to host 2011 World Cup

JAPAN have been backed in their bid to host the 2011 World Cup by Martin Johnson and Nick Farr-Jones.

The International Rugby Board will announce the winning bid in Dublin this morning. Japan are 2-1 favourites, South Africa are 11-4 and New Zealand 11-2 to land the tournament.

Rob Andrew was another to support Japan following a summer tour to the region.

“The facilities were superb, as good as any other country in the world that I’ve visited as a player or coach. The grounds were immaculate, the hotels were great and there were big, noisy crowds wherever we went.”

He believes a country other than the top eight deserves a crack at hosting the tournament. “Taking the World Cup to Japan would take rugby to a vast new audience, outside the confines of the founding members of the IRB. We know what World Cups in these places are like and it’s time to try something new. The game needs to move forward.

“One of the highlights of my career was the 1995 tournament in South Africa, dropping the goal in the quarter-final to beat Australia, but rugby has moved on and the World Cup should reflect that.”

Japanese RFU chief executive Koji Tokumasu added: “We are taking nothing for granted but we sincerely hope we have the momentum with us. Our presentations to the unions with IRB votes last month went well and now we must wait and see whether we have impressed them enough.

“Support in Japan for the tournament is huge. More than 150,000 people have now volunteered their support for our bid. We realise the IRB will be taking a bold decision if we are awarded the tournament but we promise it will be a decision that makes the game truly global and leaves rugby with a lasting legacy.”