RWC 2019 unveils iconic match ticket designs

Cape Town - The Rugby World Cup 2019 ticket designs were unveiled on Monday during a launch event held at the historic Meiji Kinenkan in central Tokyo.

According to the World Rugby website, blending the traditional Japanese artform of Musha-e, or Warrior Art , with Rugby World Cup 2019 themed motifs, the three ticket designs capture both the strong sense of tradition and deep spirit of innovation that Japan is famous for.

Familiar to art lovers and fans of Japanese culture around the world, the Musha-e artform captures famous Japanese warriors in the heat of battle, either portrayed in historical battle scenes or in a more folkloric style, fighting against mystical beings and demons. For Rugby World Cup 2019, the fearless warriors are not samurai master swordsmen, but rather rugby players on the field during a Rugby World Cup match as they compete for the honour of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup and claiming the title of world champions.

Delivery of Rugby World Cup 2019 tickets will commence from late July onwards. Anticipation and excitement among rugby fans worldwide is sure to build considerably as fans start receiving their tickets and the realisation sets in that Rugby World Cup 2019 is just around the corner.

Japan Rugby World Cup 2019 Organising Committee CEO Akira Shimazu said: “These ticket designs are incredibly symbolic for Japanese people and something our international fans are sure to love. They capture perfectly the way in which rugby is viewed here in Japan. The noble warrior, fighting with every inch of their body, mind and spirit is a fitting comparison to the modern, elite rugby player.

“These tickets, along with the specially designed ticket wallet will make for a fine memento for visitors to Rugby World Cup 2019 to treasure for years to come. The sense of excitement fans will feel upon receiving their tickets will only build as we count down the final days until kick-off of this ground-breaking, once-in-a-lifetime Rugby World Cup in Japan.”

The accompanying ticket wallet blends the ancient with the modern by incorporating the striking Rugby World Cup 2019 logo, traditional Japanese cloud motifs and a list of the eight previous winners of Rugby World Cup. The central image within the folder is a reproduction of the famous ‘Irises at Yatsuhashi’ by the famous Japanese artist Ogata Korin. Beloved by all Japanese, the piece was painted around 1700 on a traditional folding screen, a style of decorative artwork highly prized in Japan to this day.

World Rugby chairperson Sir Bill Beaumont said: “Rugby World Cup 2019 is set to be a very special celebration of rugby and Japanese culture. These striking ticket designs do not just symbolise unison of the sport and the host nation, they also symbolise excitement as the receipt of tickets is an incredibly special moment for fans as they build up to Rugby World Cup.”