Rugby World Cup Research Articles

Co-creating hospitable moments in event experiences: Omotenashi at the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup

Within Japan, Japanese hospitality or omotenashi is seen as distinct from ‘western’ hospitality, which is seen as a transactional service, focusing on the provision of food and beverages. Omotenashi, on the other hand, is based on the cultivation of a relationship between host and guest and an anticipation of needs. This article examines the role that volunteers played in delivering omotenashi and in co-creating a hospitable environment at the 2019 Rugby World Cup (RWC) in Japan. To welcome visitors, 13,000 volunteers were mobilized in host cities across the country, the highest number of volunteers in the history of the RWC. As a social event, the tournament offered many opportunities for interaction between the hosts and visitors, allowing for a co-created experience. Employing a walking methodology and participant–observation conducted within the event spaces, this article demonstrates how the engagement of the local communities through hosting, volunteering and direct interaction with visitors contributed to the co-creation of the event experience, and how omotenashi was embedded in the experiencescape. The research finds that although visitors were provided with a space in which their service needs were met, the hospitable environment was largely created through interactions between visitors and volunteers and between visitors and other visitors, both domestic and international. Significantly, volunteers displayed omotenashi, engaging with visitors in (fleeting) relationships, rather than as service providers, contributing to a clear sense of communitas and welcome that would not be found in typical transactional hospitality.

The 2019 Rugby World Cup and Economic Impacts on Hotels Recovering from Disasters

The 2019 Rugby World Cup and Economic Impacts on Hotels Recovering from Disasters

Why Small Actions Matter: Observations of Microleveraging and Event Service Operations During the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup

The aim of this article is to examine how smaller operational actions and decisions contribute to the effective leveraging of the sport event resource. It is an empirical article, with a strong applied focus, using a mixed data collection methodology. Observational and interview data were collected on event day service delivery in a mix of stadiums, fan zones, and town environments, during the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The contribution of this article to events-related research is that it shows that while leveraging must be planned for at the strategic and tactical level, it is vital that the leveraging paradigm is used at the micro-operational level of event delivery. The findings illustrate how multiple smaller leveraging actions, by multiple stakeholders, help to achieve outputs and can build a foundation for achieving legacy outcomes, such as how positive visitor emotional experiences can become future leveraging fulcrum points.

A Scale for Psychic Income From Hosting Sport Training Camps

This study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of the scale measuring the psychic income of hosting sport training camps associated with mega-sporting events, specifically in the context of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Data were collected through an online survey, with a total of 188 valid samples (35.6%). Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with 5 factors and 22 items. The factors were (1) community pride, (2) community attachment, (3) event excitement, (4) infrastructure improvement, and (5) community excitement. A final 18‐item model was used to measure the validity and goodness‐of‐fit of the scale measuring psychic income. This study demonstrated the scale’s versatility to be translated from measuring psychic income associated with mega-sporting events to measuring psychic income in the context of hosting training camps. The indicated scale may help verify the effect of hosting training camps academically and practically.

Foodborne botulism outbreak involving different nationalities during the Rugby World Cup: critical role of credit card data and rapid international cooperation, France, September 2023.

In September 2023, a severe outbreak of type B botulism with fifteen cases was linked to consumption of canned sardines at a restaurant in Bordeaux, France, during the Rugby World Cup. The cases were from seven countries. One death was recorded. Outbreak investigation using credit card data, rapid communication between health authorities of the affected countries and broad media communication allowed identification of cases and exposed persons and prevented further severe outcomes.

Rugby World Cup: South Africa Winners

Rugby World Cup: South Africa Winners

Putting the bug to bed: untangling perspectives on France's bedbug crisis.

France's bedbug resurgence has become a topic of intense media scrutiny and social media commentary in recent weeks, highlighted by the country's position in the global spotlight because of the Rugby World Cup and Paris Fashion Week. However, in the context of a global resurgence in bedbugs over the past two decades, there is limited evidence to suggest that France is an outlier compared with other countries and social media reporting may be distorting this perception resulting in disproportionate fear among the public, politicians and neighbouring countries.

Food-borne botulism outbreak during the Rugby World Cup linked to marinated sardines in Bordeaux, France, September 2023.

In September 2023, a botulism outbreak affecting 15 individuals occurred in Bordeaux, France, during the Rugby World Cup. We report on eight individuals from four different countries on two continents admitted to the intensive care unit at our hospital, where six required invasive mechanical ventilation. Cases reported consuming locally produced canned sardines at a restaurant. This report highlights the importance of rapid, worldwide alerts from health authorities to prevent severe consequences of such outbreaks, particularly during events attracting international visitors.

X as a proxy for tackle safety culture? Sentiment analysis of social media posts on red-carded and yellow-carded tackles during the 2019 Rugby World Cup

ObjectivesThis study analysed the overall sentiment of attitudes, opinions, views and emotions expressed in posts on X related to red-carded and yellow-carded tackles during the 2019 Rugby World Cup (RWC).MethodsSentiment...

Effect of Match Schedule Density on Self-Reported Wellness and Sleep in Referees During the Rugby World Cup.

To examine the effect of match schedule on self-reported wellness and sleep in rugby union referees during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Following an observational design, 18 international-level male referees participating in the 2019 Rugby World Cup completed a daily questionnaire to quantify wellness status (sleep quality, mood, stress, fatigue, muscle soreness, and total wellness) and sleep characteristics (bedtime, wake-up time, and time in bed) from the previous night across the tournament. Linear mixed models and effect sizes (Hedges gav) assessed differences in wellness and sleep characteristics between prematch and postmatch days surrounding single-game and 2-game congested match schedules (prematch1, postmatch1, prematch2, and postmatch2 days). During regular schedules, all self-reported wellness variables except stress were reduced (gav = 0.33-1.05, mean difference -0.32 to -1.21 arbitrary units [AU]) and referees went to bed later (1.08, 1:07h:min) and spent less time in bed (-0.78, 00:55h:min) postmatch compared with prematch days. During congested schedules, only wellness variables differed across days, with total wellness reduced on postmatch1 (-0.88, -3.56AU) and postmatch2 (-0.67, -2.70AU) days, as well as mood (-1.01, -0.56AU) and fatigue (-0.90, -1.11AU) reduced on postmatch1 days compared with prematch days. Referees were susceptible to acute reductions in wellness on days following matches regardless of schedule. However, only single-game regular match schedules negatively impacted the sleep characteristics of referees. Targeted strategies to maximize wellness status and sleep opportunities in referees considering the match schedule faced should be explored during future Rugby World Cup competitions.

Performance Science Domains: Contemporary Strategies for Teams Preparing for the Rugby World Cup.

As the start of the 10th Rugby Union World Cup approaches, performance staff will be working on the final elements of their teams' preparation. Much of this planning and preparation will be underpinned by the latest performance science research. In this invited commentary, we discuss contemporary performance science research in rugby union centered around 4 key performance domains. First, we outline a systematic approach to developing an overall understanding of the game demands and how performance staff can enhance the players' preparedness for competition. We then move on to outline our understanding of the training science domain, followed by a brief overview of effective recovery strategies at major tournaments. Finally, we outline research in the area of competition-day strategies and how they can positively impact players' readiness to compete. Evaluating a team's preparation for the Rugby Union World Cup can be achieved by mapping their performance plan based on the 4 domains outlined above.

Epidemiology of International Match Injuries in Scottish Rugby: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Fifteen-a-side rugby union ("rugby") is a full-contact sport played separately by men and women, with large injury incidences reported previously. Context specific injury surveillance fulfils governing bodies' duty of care to understand risks to player welfare, yet no contemporary match injury epidemiology studies exist for international players in Scotland. The current study therefore aimed to describe the incidence, severity, burden and nature of match injuries sustained by Scotland's men's and women's national teams. A prospective cohort study of injuries recorded in matches across the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons was undertaken, with injury and exposure definitions in line with the international consensus for injury surveillance in rugby. Injury incidence was 120.0 (men) and 166.7/1,000 player match hours (women), injury severity was 12.0 (median) and 31.2 days (mean) for men, and 11.0 (median) and 30.2 days (mean) for women. Injury burden was 3,745 (men) and 5,040 days absence/1,000 player match hours (women). Concussion was the most common specific injury for men (22.5/1,000 hours) and women (26.7/1,000 hours). No statistical differences were found for incidence or severity measures between sexes. Injury incidence was greater than recent Rugby World Cup studies. High incidences of concussion reinforces the need for prevention strategies targeting this injury.

Sports mega-events and cosmopolitan nationalism: A critical discourse analysis of media representations of Japan through the 2019 Rugby World Cup

Sports mega-events, like the Rugby World Cup, are often considered as a major platform for the celebration and reinforcement of nationalism. However, there is an emerging strand of research which contends that the host nations are increasingly presenting themselves with diverse, inclusive and cosmopolitan characteristics and, in turn, forms of nationalism have undergone some noticeable changes in more recent times. In this paper, we pursue an argument that Japan as the host of the 2019 Rugby World Cup projected the nation with a cosmopolitan outlook ultimately to sustain or even strengthen national interest and identity through the process of ‘cosmopolitan nationalism’. Methodologically, the research deployed critical discourse analysis to examine media representations of Japan as the host nation in general, and its national team in particular, within one of the leading Japanese newspapers as well as a range of other publicly available resources and materials in relation to the Rugby World Cup. In result, the study reveals the ways in which the discourse of ‘One Team’, embracement of foreignness and incidents of international exchanges during the event were mobilised to generate ‘thin’ cosmopolitan moments and, at the same time, were incorporated into the narratives of Japan's success on the world stage through conditional acceptance of foreignness and diversity. Consequently, this paper offers both a theoretical underpinning for and empirical evidence of the emerging linkage between sports mega-events and cosmopolitan nationalism.

An analysis of Japan’s soft power strategies through the prism of sports mega-events

This article investigates the use of sports mega-events by nations in East Asia to leverage ‘soft power’. The focus is on Japan and its ‘soft power’ strategies, building on existing work by adding a novel tripartite analysis to understand Japan’s domestic, regional and international rationale for hosting sports mega-events. The empirical data for this study is drawn from government documents and bespoke in-depth interviews (N = 10) with experts involved in sport. This, alongside engagement with the extant literature in the field, allows a more nuanced understanding of Japan’s rationale behind hosting the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the city’s second hosting of an Olympics, the 2020(1) summer Games. Key findings include the use of sports mega-events to ‘open up’ Japan’s society and bolster domestic politics, to maintain their regional status competing with China and South Korea and to improve the nation’s global status.

Placemaking in the Periphery: Leveraging Liminoid Spaces for Host Promotions and Experience Creation at the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup

This research explores the concept of placemaking in the context of sports events tourism, using the case study of the 2019 Rugby World Cup hosted in Japan. The study investigates how host cities used liminoid spaces between transport hubs and stadiums to create a festive atmosphere and articulate the identity of the place itself. Employing a novel ethnographic methodology centred around walking and participatory methods, the researcher occupied a dual tourist-researcher role, immersing himself in the liminoid space. Findings suggest that the use of such spaces was innovative and successful in creating a sense of place and developing a festive atmosphere through which visitors moved. However, the study acknowledges that these strategies may not be applicable to all sports events and that the direct experiences of visitors through ethnographic methods do not allow for empirical claims about the success of strategies or their longitudinal effects. Nevertheless, the study highlights the potential of placemaking in the periphery of sports events to enhance the visitor experience and promote the identity of the host destination.

An evidence-base for reducing the CO2 emissions of national mega sports events: application of the three-hub model to the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup

Reducing carbon emissions has emerged as an urgent sustainable tourism challenge for the organisers of global mega sports events. This study aims to contribute to the evidence-based for sustainable mega sports events, by examining the potential reduction in CO2 emissions related to the air travel of inbound tourists between each venue and prefecture of entry (airport) using the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup as a case study. We apply the “three-hub model” of event delivery to measure the scope for domestic transport emissions reductions if the event had been delivered under this model. Using secondary Rugby World Cup 2019 ticket purchase data, our estimations indicated that the implementation of the three-hub model would have reduced the domestic transport emissions of inbound spectators by 62.7% (14,126.9 tCO2). We propose two indices for the destination scale of analysis, namely, the numbers of transportation routes that require domestic flights (a) between each venue and prefecture of entry (airport) and (b) between venues. A lack of research on the CO2 emissions generated by mega sports events leaves much scope for the development of the evidence-base required to assist event organising committees to respond to SDG #13 Climate Action.

The Effect of National Team with Non-Nationals on Nationalism: Natural Experiment Using the Rugby World Cup

The Effect of National Team with Non-Nationals on Nationalism: Natural Experiment Using the Rugby World Cup

Footballisation du rugby ? La création d’une Coupe du monde de rugby en 1987

Le rugby n’a eu sa Coupe du monde que 47 ans après le football. Ce retard signale une volonté de rester tout d’abord dans l’entre-soi des pays britanniques, puis du Commonwealth. Toutefois, afin de faire vivre les rugby unions, leurs dirigeants n’ont pas hésité à organiser des tournées rémunératrices soutenues notamment par les nations de l’hémisphère sud. Exclus du Tournoi des cinq nations au début des années 1930, les rugbymen français promeuvent un internationalisme sportif non exclusif. À partir du lendemain de la Seconde Guerre, les réticences nourries à l’égard du principe d’une Coupe du monde de rugby commencent à tomber du côté britannique. L’exemple du succès de la compétition mondiale de football fait finalement tomber les dernières oppositions dans la première moitié des années 1980.

Exploration of digital rhetoric in a social network environment

This article explores the use of digital rhetoric in a social network environment with a view toobtaining greater insight into how traditional rhetoric may be applied. In this article, digital rhetoricrefers to persuasive communication in different electronic formats. The article focuses on aninductive logos communication technique used in a popular microblogging site to promote the2011 Rugby World Cup event held in New Zealand. Sport readily lends itself to the viral spreadof information by means of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) because it generates excitementamong sport enthusiasts. Big sporting events thus provide an ideal medium for marketers of sportsevents to use different marketing communication tools to communicate persuasive messagesregarding sport to a large target audience. The findings of the study on which this article is basedshed more light on digital rhetoric and can also serve as a heuristic tool for other researchersanalysing sports-marketing communication messages in social network environments.

The epidemiology of head injuries at 2019 Rugby Union World Cup

ABSTRACT Introduction The sequelae of concussion are of growing concern within Rugby. World Rugby has introduced rule changes to improve player welfare and reduce head injury frequency. We aimed to report the incidence of head injuries and head injury assessment (HIA) at the 2019 Rugby World Cup (RWC). Methods We reviewed all 45 tournament matches and recorded the number of head injuries, the injured player’s position, and the mechanism of injury; whether the player had an HIA; and if they returned to play following injury. We compared these findings with previous RWCs. Results We recorded 68 head injuries (1.33/game). Thirty-six players (52.9%) were removed from the field of play for an HIA. Of these, 23 (63.9%) failed and therefore considered to have concussion. The head injury rate in 2019 was 37.8 per 1000 player hours, which increased from previous tournaments (22.0 in 2015, 14.6 in 2011, and 4.7 in 2007). The concussion rate was 23 per 1000 player hours in 2019, which was lower than 29 in 2015. In 2019, 63.9% of HIAs were failed compared to 48.7% in 2015. We identified 17 cases where medical staff did not attend to a player suffering a head injury on-field. Of these, four players underwent an HIA after the match doctor reviewed the incident. Conclusion We recorded a higher rate of head injuries, and a player was more likely to fail their HIA than in previous tournaments. These findings may represent a greater awareness from medical staff and the benefits of education. However, 25% of head injuries not receiving an initial on-field assessment provide room for improvement.