HK, Singapore deny 2019 pullout

Hong Kong and Singapore have denied pulling out of plans to host matches during the 2019 World Cup in Japan, saying the message had been "lost in translation".

Rugby bosses blamed a misunderstanding by journalists for reports from Tokyo which said the two cities had withdrawn interest in staging World Cup matches, with Japan set to organise the competition on its own.

"This has happened before, where some over-zealous reporters probably either misquoted or misunderstood what was being said, when words are lost in translation," Singapore Rugby chief Low Teo Ping told Today newspaper.

"As far as Singapore is concerned, our interest to host the preliminary matches still stands."

Japan was awarded the right to host the 2019 edition after insisting on what it called a "tender for Asia" that it will allocate some pool matches to Hong Kong and Singapore, in a bid to help globalise the sport.

But the International Rugby Board (IRB) has said matches must be staged within host nations unless there are special reasons to co-host them.

However, Low said he had received assurances from the IRB that no decision had been made on venues for 2019.

Hong Kong Rugby Football Union also blamed a "slight misunderstanding following a press conference" for Wednesday's reports.

"We have never said we were not interested. I think there has been a slight misunderstanding following a press conference in Japan yesterday," he told the South China Morning Post.

"We are fully intent on trying to get some games to be played in Hong Kong."

Japanese media had quoted Japan rugby chief Yoshiro Mori as saying, "Hong Kong and Singapore have told us they are withdrawing... Japan will host the tournament on its own", at the end of an IRB inspection tour.

In its 2019 bid, Japan said sharing some World Cup matches with the two former British colonies would help cultivate new fans and create business opportunities in a region with emerging corporate power.

AFP