If successful, it would be the first time that the tournament, the worlds third most-watched sporting event behind the Olympics and footballs World Cup, would be held outside one of rugby's traditional strongholds.

"Japan is ready to host the tournament and we are looking forward to welcoming the world of rugby to Japan," Japan Rugby Football Union secretary Koji Tokumasu told the Sydney Morning Herald.

New Zealand and Australia staged the inaugural 1987 tournament with Britain, Ireland and France hosting the 1991 edition.

The 1995 World Cup was staged in South Africa and the tournament returned to Britain, Ireland and France four years later.

Australia hosted last year's competition which England won.

The 2007 World Cup will be hosted by France, with two matches scheduled for Wales.

Tokumasu added that the 2002 football World Cup, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, had been a huge success.

He said: "As well as having the infrastructure in place, Japan also has the commercial clout to host one of sport's top competitions."

Last year, Japan launched a professional rugby league and it has the fourth largest number of registered players (125,508) in the world after England, South Africa and France.