Japan join World Cup race

JAPAN have confirmed they will rival England, South Africa and Italy for the right to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

All four unions will travel to Dublin next week to present their cases to the International Rugby Board. South Africa, Italy and Japan are also pitching for the 2019 World Cup. A decision on the host unions for both events will be confirmed by the IRB on July 28 after a specially convened council meeting.

The £80m (€91m) tournament fee demanded by the IRB has proven a major stumbling block for the unions bidding for 2015 in such tough economic conditions.