Wales’ Rugby World Cup squad will travel to Japan ahead of their official RWC arrival time and hold a training camp in Kitakyushu increasing their preparation and acclimatisation time in the host country.

Warren Gatland’s 31-man squad will arrive in Japan September 12, eleven days ahead of their tournament opener against Georgia. They will train at the impressive City of Kitakyushu Stadium, the same venue where the WRU kicked off their partnership with the City with the delivery of a range of community activities recently.

As part of the relationship the WRU are delivering a far-reaching community programme that includes holding training sessions for thousands of local participants, the training of hundreds of coaches as well as the up-skilling local referees.

The community programme will run over three separate camps ahead of the RWC, the first of which was undertaken in the city last month. Coaches from the WRU Community department were in Kitakyushu to deliver the first wave of sessions to great success with more than 600 children participating in the first batch of training sessions.

Kitakyushu is aiming to turn itself red for the Rugby World Cup with the city getting behind Wales in the build-up and during the tournament.

Hundreds of city fire and emergency response vehicles have been emblazed with messages of support for Wales and a raft of community engagement is underway away from the training field. At the end of the first camp alone hundreds of citizens wore red to support Wales as they took part in the region’s festival carnival.

"The people of Kitakyushu could not have been more welcoming and accommodating and we have formed a very unique partnership with the city," said WRU Head of Rugby Participation Ryan Jones, who was part of the team who delivered the first programme last month.

"The RWC presents an opportunity to build long lasting ties and we have kicked off our relationship ahead of the RWC to maximise the support for Wales."The city have been incredibly supportive of the team and we are very grateful to the mayor of Kitakyushu, Mr Kitahashi for his help in securing the training camp in the city and for throwing the weight of the region behind and in support of Wales.

"They want to turn their city red during the world cup and are encouraging their citizens to get behind the team in fourteen months time.

"We have just kicked off our first community programme in the city with hundreds of children, coaches and referees benefiting from sessions held across the week. For us this is an opportunity to really deliver on legacy and to do it ahead of time.

"The benefit isn’t only being felt by the participants but also but our staff who were on the ground delivering the programme. For them it is a great experience and career development and the effect of that will be felt back in Wales within their clubs, schools and communities.

"We are delighted to have formed this relationship and to be leading the way in terms of engagement and legacy in Japan."

After 48 matches involving 20 teams, Japan 2019 will culminate with the final on November 2nd at Yokohama Stadium and for Wales, it has now been confirmed, the journey will begin in Kitakyushu.

Following the first visit the Mayor of Kitakyushu, Mr. Kitahashi said: "To the Welsh Rugby Union group that came to Kitakyushu and all the members of the WRU that helped to send them here, I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks for a wonderful week.

"In spite of the scorching Japanese summer heat, the WRU group imparted not just rugby technique, but also a rugby mentality, rugby culture, and the radiance of the sport to both citizens and local children through rugby clinics and citizen exchange events.

"I felt as though what we accomplished went past just a so-called ‘exchange program,’ rather representing a sincere desire on the part of the WRU to lay the foundation for the continuous development of rugby in the city of Kitakyushu. I am sure that this will become an incredibly valuable legacy for our city.

"Once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude as a representative of all the program participants and all the citizens of Kitakyushu as a whole, with the hope that the bonds between Kitakyushu, Wales, and the WRU will only strengthen as time goes on.

"Another exchange program is scheduled for next March, when the beautiful cherry blossoms bloom."