With a typhoon set to hit Tokyo on Sunday, here’s a look at the rules that will be followed if World Cup games are affected by hazardous weather conditions in Japan.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, typhoon Faxai has moved northwest over the Pacific ocean towards eastern Japan on Saturday, threatening to make landfall near Tokyo as early as Sunday night.
With the World Cup scheduled to kick off in two weeks’ time, the Springboks are the first team to have touched down in Japan, with the 18 other teams (excluding the host nation) set to arrive from this weekend onwards.
Asia is prone to inclement weather conditions and natural disasters. World Rugby has made provision in the event of any fixtures being affected.
Should heavy weather conditions prevent games from being completed, pool fixtures will be called off and deemed as 0-0 draws. Knockout matches will be postponed and rescheduled.
As a point of reference, a 2015 Test between Hong Kong and Japan was abandoned after 20 minutes due to a tropical storm.
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