England fly on 'Sweet Chariot' to Japan for 2019 Rugby World Cup

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George Flood8 September 2019

England have set off for Japan as they bid to win the Rugby World Cup for the second time.

Eddie Jones and his 31-man squad departed Heathrow Airport on Sunday bound for Tokyo, where they are due to land on Monday before travelling to the island of Kyushu for a pre-tournament training camp in Miyazaki.

England are flying on a British Airways plane christened 'Sweet Chariot' in reference to the song adopted by supporters.

Jones has revealed that his team have contingency plans to train on artificial turf indoors, with a powerful typhoon currently sweeping its way across Asia.

The Red Rose - who became the first host nation to be eliminated at the group stage in 2015 - are in Pool C and begin their 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign against Tonga at the Sapporo Dome on September 22.

They meet the United States in Kobe on September 26 before battling Argentina in Tokyo on October 5.

Their final pool encounter comes against France in Yokohama on October 12, with a potential quarter-final taking place in Oita.

England warmed up for Japan with a split series against Wales, winning comfortably at Twickenham before suffering a narrow defeat in Cardiff.

They then scored eight tries in a 57-15 demolition of Ireland before travelling to Newcastle on Friday evening and running in four second-half scores to record a 37-0 shutout win over Italy at St James' Park.

Scroll through the gallery above to see England posing for pictures ahead of their flight to Japan...

England's 31-man Rugby World Cup squad

Forwards: Dan Cole, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Jack Singleton, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Mark Wilson

Backs: Joe Cokanasiga, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell (c), George Ford, Piers Francis, Willi Heinz, Jonathan Joseph, Jonny May, Ruaridh McConnochie, Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Watson, Ben Youngs

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