World Rugby considers Japan to be at "rugby's top table" and are hoping for news later this year on which tournament the top Asian nation will slot into after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, according to chief executive officer Alan Gilpin. But the Covid-19 pandemic that hit after the 2019 Rugby World Cup hosted by Japan has not helped accelerate any concrete decision, at least in public. "There's no doubt Japan is at rugby's top table," Gilpin said at the Olympic men's rugby sevens tournament. Gilpin said he regretted Japan had not had the opportunity to capitalise on the "fantastic success" of the World Cup. "Notwithstanding that, what we know we have as a legacy is more people playing rugby in Japan, more interest in rugby in Japan... We'll see that legacy really build from now."

Source: News 24 July 26, 2021 09:33 UTC