The 2019 Rugby World Cup Japan Organizing Committee on Thursday announced it had hired Matt Carroll as interim chief operating officer.
Carroll, who served as the general manager of the 2003 Cup in Australia and was a leading figure in the establishment of Australia's national soccer league, will be replaced if a suitable Japanese COO can be hired.
"It is a great honor to be appointed to this important position," Carroll said in a statement on the 2019 World Cup website. "I look forward to working with the team at JR2019 to progress the planning that will deliver a tournament of which Japanese rugby and the entire country can be proud."