Americas 2 Handed Demanding RWC 2019 Scheduling

Americas 2 has been handed demanding RWC 2019 scheduling. The winner of the upcoming Rugby World Cup qualifying series between Canada and Uruguay is to be required to face Fiji and Georgia with just three rest days in between.

Today’s RWC 2019 schedule announcement confirmed that Americas 2 will not play in the opening weekend of the tournament. Instead the qualifier will enter Japan 2019 in a mid-week match on Wednesday September 25.

First up for Americas 2 will be Fiji. The Oceania 1 qualifiers will be playing their second match. They open their account in Sapporo against Australia on Saturday September 21.

Fiji’s tough entrance into the tournament may play into the hands of Americas 2. In all likelihood the Fijians will be at full strength against Australia and will rotate against the Americas qualifier.

There is little for Americas 2 to celebrate though as after their September 25 match in Kakaishi they will travel to Kumagaya to face Georgia on September 29. With the opening two matches for Americas 2 theoretically being against the easier opponents it is an undesirable schedule due to the impossibility of fielding full-strength sides on such a limited turn-around.

Supporters from Canada or Uruguay following their team will make the 515km journey in between the first and second games. The third match will be in the south of Japan in Oita. Traveling supporters will face a long inter-island trip to attend the match. Flying is advisable.

The final pool match for Americas 2 will be on the closing day of pool play. From facing Australia in Oita the team will play against Wales in the nearby Kumamoto.