Ruck ‘n roll

Dropouts, hookers, studs and sin bins…it’s a rugby thing. Get ready - the ninth Rugby World Cup is coming your way…

This September, roughly 400,000 visitors will descend upon Japan as Asia's first Rugby World Cup kicks off. It will be the first time the World Cup has been played outside the traditional rugby heartlands of Europe and the southern hemisphere.

Are you one of the lucky few off to Japan to attend the tournament in person? Will there be any fierce rivalries at play in your unit? Are you as excited as we are about the tournament? If so, we want to hear from you!

With the home nations well represented, we expect there are plenty of fanatical English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh fans keen to get involved.

The 48-match extravaganza will see 20 nations squaring up across 12 cities, with host nation Japan taking on Russia in Tokyo in the opening game on Friday 20 September.

Six weeks and one day later on Saturday 2 November, two battered and bruised finalists will be giving it their all in Yokohama for the chance to hoist the Webb Ellis Cup, named after William Webb Ellis, the Rugby School pupil who, according to popular legend, invented rugby by picking up the ball during a game of football.

Just four countries have won the trophy to date; New Zealand three times, Australia and South Africa twice each, and England once.

Who will win this year? New Zealand are the reigning world champions, having won in 2011 and then defended the title with a second consecutive win in 2015. Can they pull it off again this year or will they be knocked off the top spot?

Although we particularly want to hear from home nation fans from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, we’re also keen to get the views of colleagues who are from, or who have family in one of the traditional rugby nations further afield, such as New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Simply email your.news@royalmail.com to tell us more.