LONDON – Japan will bid to host the 2035 Rugby World Cup, the head of the country’s rugby union said Thursday.

Japan Rugby Football Union President Masato Tsuchida confirmed the plans to host the tournament for the first time since 2019 during an interview with Kyodo News in London.

“The 2019 tournament in Japan was the first step towards a new era for rugby,” Tsuchida said. “It is Japan’s role to spread the sport to Asia and the world. In that sense, I would like to do it again.”

World Rugby held its general assembly in London on Wednesday and announced that it will begin accepting expressions of interest in hosting the 2035 tournament from next month.

The top hosting candidate will be selected in May 2027, with a formal decision to be made in November of the same year.

“We would like to expand support from the Japanese government, the business community and each region,” said Tsuchida, who hopes to formally enter a bid by the end of the year.

A fallback bid for the 2039 edition could also be in the works.

The 2019 Rugby World Cup was the first to be held in Asia, with total attendance exceeding 1.7 million. Local interest in the tournament was spurred by the success of the Japanese team, who reached the quarterfinals for the first time.

The next edition will be held in Australia in 2027, followed by the United States in 2031.