- Title: Organisers tight-lipped over World Cup typhoon plans
- Date: 9th October 2019
- Summary: YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (FILE - AUGUST 2016) (REUTERS) YOKOHAMA PORT RAIN OBSCURING BRIDGE AT YOKOHAMA PORT YOKOHAMA CITY PORT BOAT ON WATER BOAT AT PORT MINI WIND TURBINE ON BOAT BOW OF BOAT AT PORT, HEAVY RAIN TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - OCTOBER 2014) (REUTERS) FAST FLOWING RIVER ROUGH RIVER/ TREES IN WIND TREES SWAYING IN WIND MAN STRUGGLING TO WALK IN HIGH WIND TREE SWAYING MAN STRUGGLING WITH UMBRELLA IN HIGH WIND PEDESTRIANS IN HIGH WIND
- Embargoed: 23rd October 2019 14:41
- Keywords: Rugby World Cup Super Typhoon Hagibis England V France Japan v Scotland
- Location: GUAM/ TOKYO, YOKOHAMA AND SUMOTO CITY, JAPAN
- City: GUAM/ TOKYO, YOKOHAMA AND SUMOTO CITY, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA002B0DMRZZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Rugby World Cup officials said on Tuesday (October 8) it would be inappropriate to reveal their contingency plans should "Super Typhoon Hagibis" cause disruption to next weekend's final group of pool fixtures.
The fierce tropical storm, predicted to be the most violent to hit Japan this year, appears to have changed direction and is now predicted to strike the Tokyo area - where England are due to play France on Saturday while Japan take on Scotland on Sunday, both in Yokohama.
Tournament rules state that any pool game that cannot be played is not rescheduled and instead is recorded as a 0-0 draw, with no bonus points available.
Such an outcome, however unlikely, would suit England and Japan, sending both into the quarter-finals as group winners - with France also through as runners-up but Scotland eliminated.
Earlier in the tournament, when another typhoon threatened a match in Fukuoka, organisers said they would have used an alternative venue. However, in a statement issued on Tuesday they would not elaborate as to whether they would try to do the same this weekend.
Should weather problems continue later into the tournament, the rules allow several days for knockout games to be rescheduled.
(Production: Jim Hatley) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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