Vehicle manufacturer Land Rover has become the first Official Partner of World Rugby’s Impact Beyond grassroots programme for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
As part of the deal, Land Rover will support Rugby Introduction Days, which will be hosted by the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) at 300 schools throughout the country this year.
Land Rover is already a worldwide partner of the Rugby World Cup, but the new agreement is with the JRFU, which will activate the bulk of the Impact Beyond programme’s projects before and after the tournament.
The manufacturer will work with the JRFU, World Rugby and Asia Rugby to host a series of grassroots rugby union festivals this year.
Impact Beyond was launched in Japan last year, with 171 schools across the Rugby World Cup’s 12 host cities holding Rugby Introduction Days, featuring about 3,000 pupils. This year, the programme is being expanded to include cities that are not hosting the tournament’s matches.
The JRFU’s president, Tadashi Okamura, said that the grassroots events will take place in April and May. The 2019 Rugby World Cup will run from September 20 to November 2.