England win World Cup

[Gangster Octopus]

...bid...

[Eggchaser]

England win World Cup

About damn time too, it will have been 20 odd years by then. Will Borthwick, Noon and Goode still bein there for their "experience", I wonder.

Japan's an interesting one - obviously a money grab as well as an expansion bid, many people wanted Italy to get it.

[Kid A]

England win World Cup

Will they make a lot of money from Japan though? Rugby's very much a minority sport there. I thought the reasoning for going to Japan was more to broaden rugby's global appeal, with one eye on getting it into the Olympics?

[Eggchaser]

England win World Cup

There's a burgeoning club scene in Japan - a lot of Antipodean players go there for a pension boost, they're not short of money. And the Japanese tend to chuck themselves wholeheartedly into sporting affairs, whatever they are. Although some gnarled, cauliflower eared, pug-faced prop may be a harder glamour sell than David Beckham.

[G-Man]

England win World Cup

South Africa is a bit annoyed now.