The ninth Rugby World Cup, and the first ever in Asia, starts when hosts Japan play Russia in Tokyo on Friday, September 20.
The competition involves 20 sides, and comprises 48 matches, played in 12 venues across three islands in Japan.
New Zealand will be bidding to make it three World Cup titles in a row, after winning on home soil eight years ago, then again in England in 2015.
The All Blacks were recently toppled from the No 1 spot in the world rankings by Wales, who will be looking to become just the second side from the northern hemisphere – after England in 2003 – to win the Webb Ellis Cup.
South Africa will be hoping to continue their sequence of winning every third World Cup, while Ireland, England, France and Australia will all consider themselves contenders, too.
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France's fly-half Camille Lopez, winger Damian Penaud, flanker Arthur Iturria, centre Wesley Fofana, prop Rabah Slimani and lock Sebastien Vahaamahina pose at the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine following the official welcoming ceremony in Fujiyoshida. AFP -
Japanese supporters wait for France's players at Kawaguchiko theatre. AFP -
France's hooker Guilhem Guirado paints on a Japanese daruma doll at the Kawaguchiko theatre. AFP -
A young Australia fan peers through the fence to watch the team's training session at the Shiroyama stadium in Odawara. AFP -
Australia full back Kurtley Beale takes part in a training session at the Shiroyama stadium. AFP -
Australia scrum-half Will Genia takes part in a training session. AFP -
Australia's Lukhan Salakaia-Loto , Michael Hooper and David Pocock take part in a training session. AFP -
South Africa's Siya Kolisi and RG Snyman take part in a training session at the Arcs Urayasu Park in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture. AFP -
South Africa's head coach Rassie Erasmus takes part in a training session. AFP -
South Africa's Elton Jantjies takes part in a training session. AFP -
South Africa's Steven Kitshoff takes part in a training session. AFP -
South Africa's Faf de Klerk arrives for a training session. AFP -
South Africa's Siya Kolisi takes part in a training session. AFP -
France's inside centre Romain Ntamack takes part in a training session at the Fuji Hokuroku Park in Fujiyoshida. AFP -
France's loose head prop Jefferson Poirot stretches before a training session. AFP -
France's lock Paul Gabrillagues fights for the ball with lock Sebastien Vahaamahina. AFP -
France's players attend a training session at the Fuji Hokuroku Park in Fujiyoshida. AFP -
France's wing Alivereti Raka runs with the ball. AFP -
France players arrive for training. AFP -
Mount Fuji is seen in the background behind a set of goal posts in Fujiyoshida. AFP -
England's captain Owen Farrell poses during a welcome ceremony for the team at the Miyazaki Prefectural Government Hall in Miyazaki. AFP -
A member of a band performs in front of the official bus of England's rugby team. AFP -
France's players attend a training session at the Fuji Hokuroku Park in Fujiyoshida. AFP -
France's players attend a training session at the Fuji Hokuroku Park in Fujiyoshida. AFP -
New Zealand's Jordie Barrett takes part in a training session at the Tatsuminomori Seaside Park in Koto, Tokyo. AFP -
New Zealand's Kieran Read takes part in a training session. AFP -
New Zealand's head coach Steve Hansen watches a training session. AFP -
New Zealand's Sonny Bill Williams takes part in a training session. AFP -
New Zealand's Aaron Smith takes part in a training session. AFP -
Japan's lock James Moore takes part in a training session at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium in Tokyo. AFP -
Japan's hooker Shota Horie takes part in a training session at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium in Tokyo. AFP -
Official Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup balls are seen on the pitch during a Japan team training session. AFP -
New Zealand's Richie Mo'unga (C) and teamates take part in a training session. AFP -
New Zealand's Shannon Frizell takes part in a training session. AFP -
Japan's flanker Michael Leitch receives attention on the pitch during a training session. AFP -
Japan's lock Luke Thompson takes part in a training session. AFP -
Japan's flanker Michael Leitch and lock Isileli Nakajima get ready for training. AFP -
A commuter walks past posters advertising the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup in the Tokyo district of Aoyama. AFP -
A commuter walks past a poster advertising the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup in the Tokyo district of Aoyama. AFP -
South Africa's Herschel Jantjies takes part in a training session at the Arcs Urayasu Park in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture. AFP -
England team members arrive at Team Welcome Ceremony ahead of the start of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Miyazaki, Japan. AFP -
Fans of Wales rugby team. AFP -
France's full back Maxime Medard runs with the ball during a training session. AFP -
South Africa's Frans Steyn takes part in a training session. AFP
Pools
- Pool A – Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Russia, Samoa
- Pool B – New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Namibia, Canada
- Pool C – England, France, Argentina, United States, Tonga
- Pool D – Australia, Wales, Georgia, Fiji, Uruguay
TV
All matches will be broadcast in the Mena region by BeIN Sports
Fixtures (all kick offs are UAE times)
Friday, September 20
2.45pm – Japan v Russia
Saturday, September 21
8.45am – Australia v Fiji
11.15am – France v Argentina
1.45pm – New Zealand v South Africa
Sunday, September 22
9.15am – Italy v Namibia
11.45am – Ireland v Scotland
2.15pm – England v Tonga
Monday, September 23
2.15pm – Wales v Georgia
Tuesday, September 24
2.15pm – Russia v Samoa
Wednesday, September 25
9.15am – Fiji v Uruguay
Thursday, September 26
11.45am – Italy v Canada
2.45pm – England v United States
Saturday, September 28
8.45am – Argentina v Tonga
11.15am – Japan v Ireland
1.45pm – South Africa v Namibia
Sunday, September 29
9.15am – Georgia v Uruguay
11.45am – Australia v Wales
Monday, September 30
2.15pm – Scotland v Samoa
Wednesday, October 2
11.45am – France v United States
2.15pm – New Zealand v Canada
Thursday, October 3
9.15am – Georgia v Fiji
2.15pm – Ireland v Russia
Friday, October 4
1.45pm – South Africa v Italy
Saturday, October 5
9.15am – Australia v Uruguay
12pm – England v Argentina
2.30pm – Japan v Samoa
Sunday, October 6
8.45am – New Zealand v Namibia
11.45am – France v Tonga
Tuesday, October 8
2.15pm – South Africa v Canada
Wednesday, October 9
8.45am – Argentina v United States
11.15am – Scotland v Russia
1.45pm – Wales v Fiji
Friday, October 11
2.15pm – Australia v Georgia
Saturday, October 12
8.45am – New Zealand v Italy
12.15pm – England v France
2.45pm – Ireland v Samoa
Sunday, October 13
7.15am – Namibia v Canada
9.45am – United States v Tonga
12.15pm – Wales v Uruguay
2.45pm – Japan v Scotland
Saturday, October 19
11.15am – Quarterfinal 1: Winner Pool C v Runner up Pool D
2.15pm – Quarterfinal 2: Winner Pool B v Runner up Pool A
Sunday, October 20
11.15am – Quarterfinal 3: Winner Pool D v Runner up Pool C
2.15pm – Quarterfinal 4: Winner Pool A v Runner up Pool B
Saturday, October 26
12pm – Semifinal 1: Winner quarterfinal 1 v Winner quarterfinal 2
Sunday, October 27
1pm – Semifinal 2: Winner quarterfinal 3 v Winner quarterfinal 4
Friday, November 1
1pm – Bronze final
Saturday, November 2
1pm - Final
Past winners (Host country in brackets)
1987 – New Zealand (New Zealand)
1991 – Australia (England)
1995 – South Africa (South Africa)
1999 – Australia (Wales)
2003 – England (Australia)
2007 – South Africa (France)
2011 – New Zealand (New Zealand)
2015 – New Zealand (England)
