Japan marks one month to go until Rugby World Cup kicks off english.kyodonews.net

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said earlier this month that the tournament "will break records and make history on and off the field as Asia's first Rugby World Cup."
Considered the world's third-largest sporting event after the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, the Rugby World Cup has been held once every four years since the inaugural 1987 tournament was hosted jointly by New Zealand and Australia.
Their recent performance elicited praise from Beaumont, who said Japan put on "an exceptional display of rugby" that "should set them up superbly for Rugby World Cup 2019 in six weeks' time."
"As Japan prepares to welcome the world next month, Rugby World Cup fever is well and truly sweeping the nation," Beaumont said.
Over the last eight Rugby World Cups, New Zealand has won three times, Australia and South Africa twice each, and England once.