Organisers of the 2019 Rugby World Cup have warned Namibia and Canada about the potential of cancellation of their final pool B game due to Typhoon Hagibis.
The two nations are scheduled to play each other at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium in Kamaishi on Sunday.
World Rugby and the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee have also advised fans who are not in the city not to travel before the status of the match is confirmed.
A full assessment of the venue and associated infrastructure is due to take place early on Sunday morning.
“Safety is our number one consideration and with Typhoon Hagibis predicted to impact Kamaishi in the early hours of Sunday morning, we continue to be in close contact with the city and the local authorities regarding the viability of hosting the match on Sunday as scheduled,” a joint statement read in part.
The Governor of Iwate prefecture and the Major of Kamaishi have both issued warnings to all residents and visitors advising them to seek safe shelter.
World Rugby and organisers, in an unprecedented move, have already cancelled two matches in the wake of the typhoon: England’s game against France and New Zealand’s match against Italy, both due to be played on Saturday. Japan’s game against Scotland, which is also to be played on Sunday, hangs in the balance.
Both sides have faced serious criticism following the cancellations and the threat of other games going the same way.
The Rugby World Cup matches cancelled due to the weather are registered as scoreless draws with no bonus points involved.
Two people have died since the storm made landfall on Japan’s main island of Honshu on Saturday evening, according to Reuters.
