Typhoon Shakes up Rugby World Cup in Japan, Leaves Gambling Firms Facing Payout
- Scotland’s fate hangs in the balance as storm rules out Italy
- William Hill offers odds of 25/1 on weather delaying the final
Photographer: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
The typhoon bearing down on Japan may have come at just the right time to help the host nation’s team advance to the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup, but it’s done no favors for bookmakers or bettors.
Two games pitting England against France, and New Zealand against Italy have already been called off as Typhoon Hagibis approaches. A decision on whether to scrap a crunch match in Yokohama between Japan and Scotland is set for Sunday morning -- if it’s called off, Japan goes through to the knockout stage and the Scots go home.