TOKYO, Tuesday : When hosting an international rugby tournament and welcoming thirsty fans from around the world, the last thing you want to do is run out of beer.
That's the message from Rugby World Cup bosses to Japanese hosts as they gear up for the global showcase that kicks off on September 20.
Japan is the first Asian country to host the World Cup and may be unfamiliar with rugby culture, organisers said, including a healthy thirst for beer -- before, during and after the action on the pitch.
Rugby bosses have warned host cities about running out of ale, using anecdotes such as when Australian and Irish fans drank the city of Adelaide dry, forcing emergency supplies to be brought in from surrounding areas.
Around two million litres of beer were downed at stadiums and nearby areas during the 2015 Rugby World Cup with rugby fans having a reputation for outdrinking their football counterparts.
Rugby culture “is not widely known in Japan”, admitted a spokesman for the World Cup organising committee, confirming the message was being passed on to host cities. - AFP
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