Putin giving Rugby World Cup appearance 'full consideration'

Russian President Vladimir Putin is giving his ‘full consideration’ to attending the Rugby World Cup opening game in Japan.

Hosts Japan are taking on Russia in Osaka in the inaugural game of the tournament, and former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori has formally invited President Putin to attend.

According to The Japan Times, Putin is giving it his ‘full consideration’.

Russia qualified for the tournament after Romania, Belgium and Spain were docked points after a controversy surrounding last year’s European Nations Cup – which acted as a Rugby World Cup qualifying tournament. Belgium, Spain and Romania fielded ineligible players and determined that each team be deducted five championship point.

A record 400,000 international visitors are anticipated to arrive in Japan between September and November.

Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan is the ninth edition of rugby’s showcase global event and the first in Asia. The world’s top 20 national teams will play in 48 matches hosted across 12 match cities for the right to lift the iconic Webb Ellis Cup and be crowned world champions.

Rugby World Cup is the sport’s financial engine, generating approximately 90 percent of World Rugby’s revenues for reinvestment in the global game over the four-year cycle.

The record-breaking success of England 2015 is enabling World Rugby to invest £245.8 million in the sport by 2020, eclipsing the previous 2013-16 £201 million investment injection by 22 percent.