Typhoon.

World Rugby is monitoring a typhoon that could hit Japan on Saturday and threaten Ireland’s final World Cup pool match with Samoa.

Ireland currently sit second in Pool A ahead of the game with Samoa and need a win to guarantee them a spot in the quarter-finals but regulations dictate that any games cancelled at the World Cup due to weather problems are registered as scoreless draws.

If that happened Scotland would be in a position to overtake Ireland with their final pool game against Japan – knocking Ireland out of the World Cup.

But it appears plans are in place with the Irish Times revealing that the tournament organisers are looking at moving the game to another location or moving it forward a day to Sunday and keeping it Hakatanomori stadium.

World Rugby say they will provide an update on the game later today.

“We are monitoring the development of a typhoon off the south coast of Japan in partnership with our weather information experts,” stated World Rugby.

“It is still too early to determine what, if any impact there will be on match, but we will provide an update later today.

“We have a robust contingency programme for such an event.”