Cape Town - The hype surrounding the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan is soaring less than a week out from the start of the tournament.
In what is the first ever edition of the tournament to be staged in Asia, spectators are not even waiting for match days to come out and show their support.
The Springboks enjoyed the support of 6000 fans during their training session at the Shiranami Stadium in Kagoshima last week and then, on Monday, it was the turn of the Welsh to feel the hospitality of the host nation.
No less than 15 000 people attended their training session in Kitakyushu as Warren Gatland's men prepare for their tournament opener against Georgia on Monday, September 23.
"This is incredible. Our open session here in Kitakyushu is about to begin. More than 15,000 people have packed the stadium in the city," the Welsh Rugby Union tweeted.
World Rugby then posted a tweet of the packed training venue greeting their visitors with a Mexican wave.
The tournament begins on September 21 when Japan take on Russia in Tokyo.
This is incredible. Our open session here in Kitakyushu is about to begin. More than 15,000 people have packed the stadium in the city. pic.twitter.com/BL23hmFsCY
— Welsh Rugby Union ?? (@WelshRugbyUnion) September 16, 2019
There isn't much more we can say than just let you watch this.....@rugbyworldcup pic.twitter.com/8yTcRZL9YU
— Welsh Rugby Union ?? (@WelshRugbyUnion) September 16, 2019
15,000 people... doing mexican waves... at a @WelshRugbyUnion open training session. Imagine what #RWC2019 opening night will be like pic.twitter.com/2Efouc9hED
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 16, 2019