World Cup countdown: 500 days to go

Sarah Mockford

Here are all the key dates you need with 500 days to go until RWC 2015

THERE ARE 500 days to go until the 2015 World Cup kicks off at Twickenham. As the countdown begins, Rugby World brings you the key dates coming up…

29 May

500,000 tickets go on sale in the Rugby Community Ticket Programme, rewarding loyal rugby fans. Nominated members of rugby clubs and organisations will be able to purchase tickets from 16 May to 30 June. To make sure you get all the latest ticket information, register for the Join the Front Row newsletter.

May also sees the start of the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour. The Webb Ellis Cup will visit 15 territories – Japan, Australia, Fiji, Madagascar, Kenya, South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay, China, Hong Kong, the USA, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Germany, Romania and France – between now and June 2015.

You will also be able to get involved by uploading your favourite rugby photo to the Trophy Tour app on Facebook, or by using #celebratingrugby on Twitter, Instagram or Vine.

Japan

On the charge: Japan will be looking to confirm their place at the 2015 World Cup later this month

25 May

The Asian 5 Nations concludes with Japan playing Hong Kong in Tokyo. The winners of the tournament – most likely Japan – will qualify as Asia 1 and join South Africa, Samoa, Scotland and USA in Pool B.

28 June

Fiji play Cook Islands in Lautoka to determine who will join Pool A and open the World Cup by facing England on 18 September 2015 at Twickenham.

Fiji

All to play for: will Fiji earn the right to play England at Twickenham in the World Cup opener?

6 July

The final round of games in the African qualifiers takes place in Madagascar. Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia and Zimbabwe are all battling to qualify as Africa 1, who will join Pool C alongside New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Georgia.

September

RWC 2015 tickets will go on general sale to the public from 12-29 September. Rugby World will keep you posted with all the details.

October

The play-off winner, who will take the final place in Pool A, will be decided in October, although exact dates are yet to be confirmed. The repechage involves teams from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.

November

Any remaining match tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis.