2019 Rugby World Cup Schedule
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Bonus Points Important in Pool Matches
The 2019 Rugby World Cup features 20 teams. The top three finishers in each of the four pools at the 2015 World Cup qualified automatically, while the remaining teams won out in the qualifying stages.
In 2019, there are once again four pools of five teams, of which the top two will progress to the quarterfinals. Rugby has its own distinctive points system for the pool stage, as follows.
- 4 points for a win
- 2 points for a draw
- 0 points for a loss
- 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries or more (regardless of the result)
- 1 bonus point for a loss by 7 or fewer points
Despite a solid record of three victories from four pool matches in 2015, Japan failed to qualify for the quarterfinals due to scoring fewer bonus points than South Africa and Scotland. If teams finish the pool level on points, the order is decided based on the number of wins, losing bonus points, and try bonus points, respectively.
Scotland handed Japan its only defeat in the 2015 World Cup, a 45-10 drubbing. (Courtesy Rugby World Cup 2019 Organizing Committee)
Pool Stage Teams
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland (1) | New Zealand (2) | England (3) | Wales (5) |
| Scotland (7) | South Africa (4) | France (8) | Australia (6) |
| Japan (10) | Italy (14) | Argentina (11) | Fiji (9) |
| Russia (20) | Namibia (23) | United States (13) | Georgia (12) |
| Samoa (16) | Canada (22) | Tonga (15) | Uruguay (19) |
World rankings, in parentheses, as of September 9, 2019.
Pool A Matches
| Date | Kick-off | City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan vs Russia | September 20 | 7:45 pm | Tokyo |
| Ireland vs Scotland | September 22 | 4:45 pm | Yokohama |
| Russia vs Samoa | September 24 | 7:15 pm | Kumagaya, Saitama |
| Japan vs Ireland | September 28 | 4:15 pm | Fukuroi, Shizuoka |
| Scotland vs Samoa | September 30 | 7:15 pm | Kobe |
| Ireland vs Russia | October 3 | 7:15 pm | Kobe |
| Japan vs Samoa | October 5 | 7:30 pm | Toyota, Aichi |
| Scotland vs Russia | October 9 | 4:15 pm | Fukuroi, Shizuoka |
| Ireland vs Samoa | October 12 | 7:45 pm | Fukuoka |
| Japan vs Scotland | October 13 | 7:45 pm | Yokohama |
Pool B Matches
| Date | Kick-off | City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand vs South Africa | September 21 | 6:45 pm | Yokohama |
| Italy vs Namibia | September 22 | 2:15 pm | Higashiōsaka |
| Italy vs Canada | September 26 | 4:45 pm | Fukuoka |
| South Africa vs Namibia | September 28 | 6:45 pm | Toyota, Aichi |
| New Zealand vs Canada | October 2 | 7:15 pm | Ōita |
| South Africa vs Italy | October 4 | 6:45 pm | Fukuroi, Shizuoka |
| New Zealand vs Namibia | October 6 | 1:45 pm | Tokyo |
| South Africa vs Canada | October 8 | 7:15 pm | Kobe |
| New Zealand vs Italy | October 12 | 1:45 pm | Toyota, Aichi |
| Namibia vs Canada | October 13 | 12:15 pm | Kamaishi, Iwate |
Pool C Matches
| Date | Kick-off | City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| France vs Argentina | September 21 | 4:15 pm | Tokyo |
| England vs Tonga | September 22 | 7:15 pm | Sapporo |
| England vs United States | September 26 | 7:45 pm | Kobe |
| Argentina vs Tonga | September 28 | 1:45 pm | Higashiōsaka |
| France vs United States | October 2 | 4:45 pm | Fukuoka |
| England vs Argentina | October 5 | 5:00 pm | Tokyo |
| France vs Tonga | October 6 | 4:45 pm | Kumamoto |
| Argentina vs United States | October 9 | 1:45 pm | Kumagaya, Saitama |
| England vs France | October 12 | 5:15 pm | Yokohama |
| United States vs Tonga | October 13 | 2:45 pm | Higashiōsaka |
Pool D Matches
| Date | Kick-off | City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia vs Fiji | September 21 | 1:45 pm | Sapporo |
| Wales vs Georgia | September 23 | 7:15 pm | Toyota, Aichi |
| Fiji vs Uruguay | September 25 | 2:15 pm | Kamaishi, Iwate |
| Georgia vs Uruguay | September 29 | 2:15 pm | Kumagaya, Saitama |
| Australia vs Wales | September 29 | 4:45 pm | Tokyo |
| Georgia vs Fiji | October 3 | 2:15 pm | Higashiōsaka |
| Australia vs Uruguay | October 5 | 2:15 pm | Ōita |
| Wales vs Fiji | October 9 | 6:45 pm | Ōita |
| Australia vs Georgia | October 11 | 7:15 pm | Fukuroi, Shizuoka |
| Wales vs Uruguay | October 13 | 5:15 pm | Kumamoto |
Related article › 2019 Rugby World Cup: Match Venues and Host Cities
To the Winner, the Webb Ellis Cup
The knockout stage begins on October 19, and the winning team at the final, held on November 2 at International Stadium Yokohama, will be awarded the Webb Ellis Cup. New Zealand is playing for its third consecutive trophy. Time will tell whether the All Blacks, currently top of the world rankings, can fend off its rivals to win through again. Meanwhile, Japan will hope to make the quarterfinals, at least.
In the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the New Zealand All Blacks beat Australia to claim its second consecutive championship and third overall. (Courtesy Rugby World Cup 2019 Organizing Committee)
Quarterfinal Matches
| Date | Kick-off | City | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal 1 | October 19 | 4:15 pm | Ōita | England vs Australia |
| Quarterfinal 2 | October 19 | 7:15 pm | Tokyo | New Zealand vs Ireland |
| Quarterfinal 3 | October 20 | 4:15 pm | Ōita | Wales vs France |
| Quarterfinal 4 | October 20 | 7:15 pm | Tokyo | Japan vs South Africa |
Semifinal Matches
| Date | Kick-off | City | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinal 1 | October 26 | 5:00 pm | Yokohama | England vs New Zealand |
| Semifinal 2 | October 27 | 6:00 pm | Yokohama | Wales vs South Africa |
Bronze Final
| Date | Kick-off | City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand vs Wales | November 1 | 6:00 pm | Tokyo |
Final
| Date | Kick-off | City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| England vs South Africa | November 2 | 6:00 pm | Yokohama |
The Japan team celebrates beating the US team in its final 2015 pool match, even though it was not enough to reach the knockout stage. (© Jiji)
(Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo: Michael Leitch, captain of the Japan team, and other members pose in new jerseys at a press conference in July 2019. © Jiji.)