President Bernard Lapasset has refuted suggestions that World Rugby has approached South Africa about hosting the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Japan's plans to host the event suffered a major set back with their government deciding not to fund a new national stadium which was critical to the Japanese bid.

Lapasset is confident Japan will meet the necessary requirements to host the tournament.

"We promise to be resolving this process, and to be sure that we have the best event possible in Japan."

"There's no plan B and no contact with South Africa."

"We are very confident to continue with Japan first."

He admitted that "it was difficult after the cutting of the stadium. That meant a big change to the program."

"However, we are very confident now the Japanese will meet our requirements. We will be holding some meetings with the Japanese in the coming weeks to ensure we have the best competition in 2019."

Japan lobbied hard to win the right to host the sport's quadrennial global showpiece beating South Africa and Italy in a vote in Dublin in 2009.

They will be the first Asian hosts of the World Cup and the first to come from outside the top tier of established rugby playing countries.

Japan have until the end of the month to present an alternative plan to World Rugby.

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