Brave Blossoms Break Global Broadcast Record

In a major boost for the game of rugby in Japan, a world record national audience tuned in to watch the Brave Blossoms defeat Samoa in the Rugby World Cup Pool B match on Saturday.

Twenty-five million people in Japan watched the 26-5 victory for Eddie Jones and his team in Milton Keynes, eclipsing the previous record of 20.7 million held by France, when national broadcaster TF1 televised the first semi-final of Rugby World Cup 2007 between France and England in Paris.

The recorded audience represents nearly 20% of the entire Japanese population and a TV audience share in excess of 64%.

The figures are another strong indicator that awareness and popularity of rugby is growing in the country which will host the Rugby World Cup in 2019.

“This is a significant result for the game in Japan. It shows that the general population there appreciate the sport and the amazing performances of their national team over the past few weeks. The highlight, of course, was the incredible win over South Africa in Brighton but Japan have set this entire tournament alight with how they have performed in all their games. Their style of play has really caught the imagination of rugby fans around the world and, as these broadcast numbers indicate, in Japan,” said World Rugby Chief Executive, Brett Gosper. “This boost in interest could not be better timed as Rugby World Cup will venture outside of traditional rugby heartlands for the first time in 2019. It really has given the event a major shot in the arm.”

Still with a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals for the first time, Japan’s final pool match takes place on Sunday against USA at Kingsholm in Gloucester, England.

See also: The Brave Blossoms and other national rugby sevens teams in action during Thailand Sevens 2015.