City of Toyota Stadium
This is another stadium that belongs in the "not really a rugby ground" category, although I have a particular reason for including it. I was here in 2019 when Wales played Georgia in the Rugby World Cup, and it proved to be a pretty impressive place to watch rugby.
The City of Toyota Stadium is primarily a football stadium and home to J1 League side Nagoya Grampus, although it also has a connection with rugby through Toyota Verblitz. Built in 2001, it is a substantial 45,000-capacity stadium and certainly doesn't look out of place when a major rugby match arrives.The most striking feature is the roof, which has a rather clever accordion-like design. From the outside it is an impressive sight, and inside the steeply raked stands give you an excellent view of the pitch wherever you happen to be sitting.
For the 2019 World Cup it was given three matches, including Wales v Georgia, South Africa v Namibia and Japan v Samoa.
For me, though, it will always be remembered for that Wales v Georgia game on 23 September 2019. Wales arrived as reigning Six Nations Grand Slam champions and got their World Cup campaign off to a flying start, winning 43–14 after racing into a 29–0 half-time lead.
It was also one of those occasions where the stadium itself became part of the experience. Toyota is a long way from Wales, but there were Welsh supporters everywhere, turning the journey to the stadium into something of a travelling Welsh rugby festival. The atmosphere around the ground was excellent and, once inside, the steep stands made the place feel much bigger than you might expect.
The stadium is also well located for a major sporting event, with Toyota Station within walking distance. The approach to the ground, including the impressive bridge over the Yahagi River, makes the arrival part of the experience rather than simply a case of finding the nearest car park.Although it is primarily a football stadium, there is no feeling that rugby has been shoehorned into an unsuitable venue. The pitch is excellent, the views are good and the scale of the place is entirely appropriate for international rugby.
Perhaps that is the great thing about these occasional rugby grounds. You don't necessarily need a traditional rugby stadium to produce a memorable rugby occasion. Give me a good view, decent facilities, a passionate crowd and a big game and I'm quite happy.
And having actually sat here to watch Wales play Georgia, I can say that the City of Toyota Stadium certainly passed the test. It is an impressive football stadium that makes a very convincing rugby ground when the occasion demands it.
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