Organisers of the 2019 Rugby World Cup early on Sunday cancelled the Pool B game between Namibia and Canada in the wake of Typhoon Hagibis.

The two nations were scheduled to play each other at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium in Kamaishi.

World Rugby and the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee had previously advised fans who were not in the city not to travel before the status of the match was confirmed.

"Following torrential rains in north-east Japan last night, today's #NAMvCAN at #RWCKamaishi has been cancelled. This follows reports of localised flooding & landslides. Please do not travel to Kamaishi or the match venue as it will be closed," a statement from the organisers said.

A full assessment of the venue and associated infrastructure took place early on Sunday morning.

The Governor of Iwate prefecture and the Major of Kamaishi had also issued warnings to all residents and visitors advising them to seek safe shelter.

This becomes the third match at the 2019 Rugby World Cup to be cancelled, a move that has attracted criticism from players and fans. The other two matches that were cancelled were England's game against France and New Zealand's match against Italy.

The Rugby World Cup matches cancelled due to the weather are registered as scoreless draws with no bonus points involved.

The typhoon is one of the largest and most powerful to hit Japan in recent years, causing significant damage and disruption.

At least 20 people have died since the storm made landfall on Japan's main island of Honshu on Saturday evening.

Source(s): Rugby World Cup