• Australia back row Isi Naisarani takes part in a training session in Urayasu, on September 27, 2019, during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup. AFP
    Australia back row Isi Naisarani takes part in a training session in Urayasu, on September 27, 2019, during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup. AFP
  • Australia full-back Kurtley Beale takes part in kicking drills. AFP
    Australia full-back Kurtley Beale takes part in kicking drills. AFP
  • Australia prop Sekope Kepu takes part in a training session in Urayasu. AFP
    Australia prop Sekope Kepu takes part in a training session in Urayasu. AFP
  • Australia's head coach Michael Cheika balances a rugby ball on his fingers. AFP
    Australia's head coach Michael Cheika balances a rugby ball on his fingers. AFP
  • This handout picture from the New Zealand All Blacks shows team members, including Captain Kieran Read, George Bridge, Dane Coles, Shannon Frizell, Richie Mo’unga, Atu Moli, Joe Moody, Matt Todd and Jack Goodhue, relaxing in a sandbath at Beppu Beach in Beppu, Oita prefecture. AFP
    This handout picture from the New Zealand All Blacks shows team members, including Captain Kieran Read, George Bridge, Dane Coles, Shannon Frizell, Richie Mo’unga, Atu Moli, Joe Moody, Matt Todd and Jack Goodhue, relaxing in a sandbath at Beppu Beach in Beppu, Oita prefecture. AFP
  • France hooker Guilhem Guirado and prop Cyril Baille attend a training session at the Suizenji Athletic Field in Kumamoto. AFP
    France hooker Guilhem Guirado and prop Cyril Baille attend a training session at the Suizenji Athletic Field in Kumamoto. AFP
  • France hooker Guilhem Guirado, centre, leads the team out to training. AFP
    France hooker Guilhem Guirado, centre, leads the team out to training. AFP
  • France flanker Wenceslas Lauret grabs the ball in a line-out. AFP
    France flanker Wenceslas Lauret grabs the ball in a line-out. AFP
  • France's head coach Jacques Brunel looks on. AFP
    France's head coach Jacques Brunel looks on. AFP
  • France's full-back Maxime Medard gives a press conference at the Suizenji Athletic Field in Kumamoto. AFP
    France's full-back Maxime Medard gives a press conference at the Suizenji Athletic Field in Kumamoto. AFP
  • Wales' head coach Warren Gatland leads a team training session in Tokyo. AFP
    Wales' head coach Warren Gatland leads a team training session in Tokyo. AFP
  • Japan flanker Pieter Labuschagne takes part in a captain's run training session at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP
    Japan flanker Pieter Labuschagne takes part in a captain's run training session at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP
  • Japan players takes part in a captain's run training session. AFP
    Japan players takes part in a captain's run training session. AFP
  • Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier takes part in a captain's run training session at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP
    Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier takes part in a captain's run training session at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP
  • A player picks up an official tournament ball during a Wales team training session in Tokyo. AFP
    A player picks up an official tournament ball during a Wales team training session in Tokyo. AFP
  • Wales players take part in a team training session in Tokyo. AFP
    Wales players take part in a team training session in Tokyo. AFP
  • Wales' scrum-half Aled Davies takes part in a team training session in Tokyo. AFP
    Wales' scrum-half Aled Davies takes part in a team training session in Tokyo. AFP
  • Chad Plato of Namibia participates in a training session. EPA
    Chad Plato of Namibia participates in a training session. EPA
  • Tjiuee Uanivi of Namibia participates in a training session. EPA
    Tjiuee Uanivi of Namibia participates in a training session. EPA
  • Eugene Jantjies, left, and Adriaan Booysen of Namibia participate in a training session ahead of the Rugby World Cup match against South Africa in Toyota. AFP
    Eugene Jantjies, left, and Adriaan Booysen of Namibia participate in a training session ahead of the Rugby World Cup match against South Africa in Toyota. AFP

Rugby World Cup 2019: All Blacks covered in volcanic sands and hosts Japan prepare for Ireland - in pictures


Steve Luckings
  • English
  • Arabic

Friday was a day off at the Rugby World Cup 2019, but that didn't stop teams from fine-tuning their games in training - or having volcanic sands spread over their bodies, in the New Zealand squad's case.

Several All Blacks tested it out the local a traditional sand bath in Beppu, where the person is covered from neck to foot in the hot volcanic sands found on the southern island of Kyushu.

It wasn't to everyone's liking, though.

"The other boys really enjoyed it. Me, personally, I don't deal with the heat too well, not very good at saunas and that sort of thing - I couldn't stand there for very long," said New Zealand hooker Codie Taylor.

Across the country, team such as hosts Japan, Australia, France, Ireland and Namibia took part in training sessions ahead of their next matches.

There are three games slated for Saturday: Argentina take on Tonga in Pool C, Japan and Ireland meet in Pool A and Australia clash with Six Nations champions Wales in Pool D.

You can find a full guide to all the fixtures here.

Check out the photo gallery above of all Friday's training pictures.

To move on to the next image, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.