Another boost for rugby in Japan: Tokyo to host Pacific Nations Cup
Japan knocked off Hong Kong to take the Asian Games crown.The International Rugby Board has announced Tokyo will play host to the 2011 Pacific Nations Cup in July next year, another feather in the cap for Japanese rugby.
Japan has established itself as the leading force in rugby in Asia, placing 13 in world rankings and winning gold at the 16th Asian Games this November.
The 2011 games will all take place at Prince Chichibu Memorial in the central Tokyo district of Aoyama.
Tonga will take on Fiji while Japan meets Samoa on July 2. On July 8 it is Tonga against Samoa and Japan vs Fiji. Samoa plays Fiji and Japan battle Tonga on July 13.
Samoa were victors on the tournament in June 2010.
"Rugby in Asia is continuing to go from strength to strength and the IRB is delighted to award this major international tournament to Japan and a union that has been at the very heart of this growth," says IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset.
Japan was also chosen last year as the nation to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the first Asian host of the event, following England in 2015.
