Construction is nearing completion on the only new stadium being built for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The 16,000-capacity Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium in Iwate Prefecture will host two fixtures at next year’s tournament. It will first open on the 19 August 2018 for a memorial match between the Kamaishi Seawaves Rugby Football Club and Top League side Yamaha Jubilo, in honour of those who lost their lives

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has named Manchester-based firm Mather and Co to design its new World Rugby Museum at the spiritual home of the sport – Twickenham Stadium. Scheduled to open in early 2018, the new attraction was commissioned by the RFU as part of the redevelopment of the 82,000-capacity stadium’s East Stand. The museum will cover 650sq m (7,000sq m) and will chart the history of rugby from

Global sports architects HOK have collaborated with four international rugby players to discuss what is needed in the rugby stadiums of the future. John Rhodes, a director of the practice’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment division, met with Jamie Roberts of Wales, Tim Visser of Scotland, James Horwill of Australia and Danny Care of England to learn from their experiences as players and fans. HOK has released the conversation and

Cox Architecture, the studio behind the Jakarta International Velodrome, has been appointed to design a 25,000-capacity stadium for the North Queensland Cowboys rugby league team. The project has been unveiled by the Townsville and Queensland Government, and will have a AS$250m (£146.1m, US$180.8m, €174.1m) budget. It has been slated to be ready in time for the 2020 National Rugby League (NRL) season. According to the architects, the stadium has been

A plan to develop a new Populous-designed rugby stadium in Paris has been scrapped by the French Rugby Federation (FFR) following the election of its new president. Former national team coach Bernard Laporte was elected earlier this month. In one of his first moves as president, Laporte has opted to end the project despite its advanced stage. Instead of building the 82,000-capacity stadium, Laporte told the FFR Executive Committee that

A new national stadium accommodating football and rugby is expected to be built and ready in Luxembourg by October 2019. The mayor of the eponymous capital city, Lydie Polfer, unveiled plans for the 9,385-capacity venue, which is expected to cost €60m (£51.2m, US$63.6m). Located on Boulevard de Kockelscheuer, the proposed stadium has been designed by the BENG architecture practice. Preparatory work on the site is expected to begin in May

Leinster Rugby has submitted proposals for the €26m (£22m, US$29m) redevelopment of its home RDS Arena. The three-time European champion has applied for planning permission from Dublin City Council to increase the capacity of the stadium from 18,500 to 21,000, while improving the visitor facilities within the Anglesea stand. Dublin studio Newenham Mulligan and London-based architects Grimshaw have been selected to create the design concept. Redevelopment work will not only

France’s rugby federation has reached an agreement with contractor Ibelys to begin building a new 82,000-capacity home for the sport in Paris. The planned stadium, designed by Populous, will form the heart of a new leisure district planned for the French capital. In addition to hosting all French national team home matches, the multi-purpose stadium will also accommodate conventions, shows and other sporting events. The capacity can be extended to

After plans were revealed at the end of last month to build a permanent home for World Rugby in the sport’s birthplace, Manchester-based design firm Mather and Co have been appointed to create the attraction in Warwickshire, UK. Billed as a “fully-interactive and immersive museum”, the Hall of Fame will be located within the town of Rugby’s art gallery, museum and library. Mather has a strong portfolio of sporting experiences,

Twickenham – the home of English rugby – is embarking on a redevelopment plan which will see the transformation of its east stand. The work will double the available space on the east stand, creating an additional 10,750sq m (115,712sq ft) to facilitate improvements to existing hospitality areas. KSS Architects have been selected to modernise the exterior of the stand as part of the project, although the existing bowl infrastructure

The Northern Irish government has expressed its commitment to redeveloping Belfast’s Casement Park stadium in a bid to bring the 2023 Rugby World Cup to Ireland. Belfast's Casement Park is at the heart of the joint bid Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland put forward to host the tournament, but work on the 38,000-capacity Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) venue – which was originally scheduled for completion in 2015 –

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Centre, Rugby's new leisure centre, is on track to opens its doors on 31 August. The new centre replaces the Ken Marriott Leisure Centre, which has been demolished after serving the town for 40 years. The centre, designed by B3 Architects, has been built on the site of the Ken Marriott Leisure Centre's car park. Facilities include two swimming pools, a 100-station gym, a climbing wall,

Olympic stadium designers Populous have been selected to design the new French national stadium of rugby by the French Rugby Federation (FFR). Grand Stade FFR stadium, which is being developed by Paris-based architects Ateliers 2/3/4, will have a capacity of 82,000. Construction work will commence in 2015 with the project expected to be complete by the end of 2017. The FFR expect the venue to host 17-20 events a year,

Image: France rugby's current Stade de France home The French Rugby Federation (FFR) has announced plans for a new 82,000-seat stadium to be built on the site of a former racecourse in Ris-Orangis - 25km (16 miles) south of Paris. A FFR steering committee unanimously backed a bid from the City of Ris-Orangis, the town of Evry Essonne Centre and the General Council of Essonne for the project. The proposed

Rugby Borough Council (RBC) has "unanimously approved" proposals for a new £12.5m leisure centre to be built on the site of a car park at the Warwickshire town's existing venue. The B3 Architects -designed complex is to be called the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Centre and, once complete in 2013, will lead to the demolition of the 40-year-old Ken Marriott Leisure Centre. A 25m, eight-lane swimming pool and a 17m x

Rugby Borough Council (RBC) has revealed that work could start "within months" on a new leisure centre in the Warwickshire town after plans were submitted for consideration. The B3 Architects-designed facility will cater for a range of sports and leisure uses and is to replace the current Ken Marriott Leisure Centre, which is around 40 years old. Located on the car park of the existing venue, the new leisure centre

Leeds Rugby, owner of the city's Headingley Carnegie Stadium, has unveiled new plans for the redevelopment of the 6,000-capacity South Stand terrace. DLA Architecture's proposals have now gone on show as part of a consultation, which will see the stand's capacity increase to 6,500 and boast upgraded access for disabled fans. New alternative changing rooms and enhanced concession areas are also planned, although corporate facilities included in initial plans last