BrazilEY named official services supplier to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan
The Japanese arm of EY has been announced as the official professional services supplier for the 2019 Rugby World Cup to be held in Japan next year.
With the one-year countdown already underway until the 2019 Japan Rugby World Cup kicks off in September next year, the local branch of global Big Four firm Ernst & Young has been named as the event’s official professional services provider. Appointed by the sport’s governing body World Rugby, EY retains its role from the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England and the Women’s Rugby World Cup held in Ireland last year.
“EY is a global leader in the accountancy, tax and business advisory sectors, and their services will be critical to an event,” World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said in expressing his delight in the continuing relationship. “We look forward to strengthening our collaboration in the spirit of unity, innovation and teamwork as we prepare to deliver what will be a very special, successful and ground-breaking Rugby World Cup.”
According to an economic impact study conducted by EY earlier this year, the 2019 Rugby World Cup (RWC) is predicted to provide a £1.5 billion added value boon to the local GDP across the six weeks of its twelve-city schedule, with 400,000 visitors expected to contribute over £700 million in direct expenditure. The projections follow the £1 billion boost to the UK economy forecast by the firm prior to the event in 2015.
Under the agreement, the Japanese arm of EY, which will be integrated with the firm’s Asia Pacific operations by the time of the first whistle, will provide a full range of professional services for the tournament including in the areas of tax advisory and accounting, with the firm stating that it aims to contribute to the success of the tournament by working together with players and event organisers as well as rugby fans.
“It is a great honour for EY Japan to be able to participate in RWC 2019 as an official professional services supplier,” said Country Managing Partner Koichi Tsuji. “For a tournament where the teams compete with a national pride, we are looking forward to supplying our expertise as professional business advisors… As a supporter, we will do our best to ensure that RWC 2019 is remembered as the most exciting and successful to date.”
According to reports, more than 4.5 million ticket applications have been made for the 48-match 2019 event since ballots opened at the beginning of this year, with 40 percent of the bids originating from outside of Japan. On the field, Australia will be seeking to avenge its loss to New Zealand in the final of the 2015 tournament and reaffirm its status as the most successful Rugby World Cup team over the past 30 years.
