Rugby World Cup Japan: 4 Days to the First-Ever Asian-Hosted Webb Ellis Cup 🏉

Rugby World Cup opens in Tokyo on September 20 — the first time the tournament is hosted in Asia. The Webb Ellis Cup, 38cm of gilded silver, will travel the country before being lifted in Yokohama on November 2.

Twin Handles and Pineapple Finial

The Webb Ellis Cup has two ornate vine-shaped handles and a small carved pineapple at the top — a Victorian touch that should look dated but somehow works. The lesson: ornament that ties the trophy to a specific historical era reads as deliberate and earned, while generic modern ornament reads as filler.

Engraving on the Underside

Winning nation names are engraved on the trophy's underside — invisible during display, discovered when the trophy is tilted. This deliberate hiding makes finding the engraving feel like a reward. For perpetual trophies, hiding engraving on a non-display surface preserves visual cleanliness and adds a discovered-detail moment.