Rugby

RWC 2019 – Only One Year to Go!

The countdown continues. The excitement is building. With only one year to go until Rugby World Cup 2019™ in Japan, we’re all geared up to delight fans, drive interest in the sport and deliver memorable moments around the world!

Today marks one year to go (1YTG) until the sport of rugby makes history at Rugby World Cup 2019™ in Japan – the first-ever Rugby World Cup in Asia. From September 20 to November 2, 2019, all eyes will be on the planet’s top 20 national men’s teams as they battle it out for Rugby’s highest honors: The Webb Ellis Cup. From now until what is sure to be yet another unforgettable tournament, we’re planning to make some memories – and we want you to join us!

We’re planning to make some memories – and we want you to join us!

Delivering the experts
This past May, at the 500-days-to-go mark, we were pleased to announce that RWC 1987 Champion and former New Zealand player, Sir John Kirwan, had signed on as a DHL rugby expert. Sir John is now being joined by three Japanese colleagues – Kotaro Matsushima, a member of the national rugby team, Tomoaki Makino, a professional football player from Urawa Red Diamonds, and Shotaro Onishi, a former national rugby team player. This foursome will chaperone our activities in Japan and around the world, meeting with fans, sharing their stories, and providing insights into the tournament. 

Delivering the trophy
In November 2017, World Rugby’s biggest prize – The Webb Ellis Cup – departed England to embark on a journey to visit 18 established and developing rugby nations in the build-up to RWC 2019. The tour has visited seven countries on three continents, with future stops scheduled in Nepal (December 2018), Ireland and France (January 2019), South Africa (February 2019), USA and Canada (March 2019), Pakistan (April 2019), and Brazil and Chile (May 2019). After that the Cup will travel to Japan for a national tour ahead of the tournament. Check tour stops and dates here and follow @rugbyworldcup keep up with this exciting international journey and watch for fan events in your area.

Delivering the ball
Like at RWC 2015 in England and RWC 2011 in New Zealand, DHL is honored to have the unique role of delivering the match ball onto the field before the start of every one of the 48 RWC matches to take place. And today, with the help of Matsushima, Makino and Onishi, we launched a campaign across Japan to find 20 local children to be Match Ball Delivery ambassadors. Soon we’ll search for and select the rest of the young rugby talents from around the world to join them. Stay tuned as we introduce you to some of these budding athletes.

Delivering the skills
Representing DHL and World Rugby’s official charity partner, ChildFund Pass It Back, two extreme adventurers – Ron Rutland and James Owens – are setting off on a remarkable quest: to cycle 18,500 km from London to Tokyo in time for RWC 2019. Beginning on February 2, 2019, the seven-month expedition will take them through 23 countries over 230 days. They’re doing it to raise money and awareness for ChildFund Pass It Back and to promote the game of rugby. We will be supporting and following their progress on a dedicated website. Don’t miss your chance to get involved by making a donation or even joining the duo for part of their adventure! Check out the site to register, donate and see updates, photos and messages from Ron and James as they pedal their way to Rugby World Cup 2019.

Register to host a RUGBY.DELIVERED. match and you could win a trip to RWC 2019.

Delivering the dream
Rugby fans around the world are all connected by passion, teamwork and respect. Our collective love for the game has the power to unite the rugby community in every corner of the world. That’s why we’re harnessing this unified passion for the game and strengthening ties between the community of fans like never before. Using our worldwide logistics expertise and our global network of over 220 countries and territories, we will deliver rugby kits to fans all over the world as part of the global rugby tour – and you can be a part of it! Register to host a RUGBY.DELIVERED. match and you could win a trip of a lifetime to RWC 2019. Whether it’s a game of touch with your friends in a local park, a fifteen-a-side club match or an all-ages tag rugby game, tell us what it would mean for you and your team and you’ll be entered to win.

Delivering the event
As the Official Logistics Partner of RWC 2019, we began training hard one year ago to support World Rugby’s main global event. Much like the scrum in a rugby match, logistics is an essential part of an international tournament played across 12 venues. From shipping the teams’ freight to Japan and delivering tickets around the world before the tournament to handling domestic logistics and providing team van support during the tournament to ensuring the teams’ gear returns home safely after the tournament, we’re working to ensure that all the key positions are covered.

Find out more about our passion for and partnership with the sport of rugby right here on DHL InMotion and follow us @DHLRugby.

And stay up to date with Rugby World Cup 2019 at www.rugbyworldcup.com.

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