Japan's rugby union leader has stated that the country wants to host the World Cup again as early as 2035, perhaps bringing it back to Asia for the second time.

In 2019, Japan became the first country outside rugby's traditional heartlands to host the tournament, defeating Ireland and Scotland in the quarter-finals.

On Wednesday, Japan Rugby Football Union president Kensuke Iwabuchi stated that Japan had told World Rugby that it aspires to host the men's World Cup in 2035 and the women's tournament in 2037.


World Rugby just announced the future hosts for the men's and women's competitions, which will occur two years later.

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Iwabuchi stated that Japan "wishes to be the best team in the world when they host it."

"We've informed the World Rugby board that we want to do it as soon as possible (2035), and we'll move forward based on when the conditions allow us to host it," he said.

The men's World Cup will be held in Australia in 2027, followed by the women's World Cup in 2029, the men's tournament in 2031, and the women's tournament in 2033.

This year's men's World Cup will be held in France beginning in September.