TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Newly elected World Rugby chair Brett Robinson gave positive indications Monday about Japan's prospects for hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2035 or 2039.

The 54-year-old Australian, who took up his post in November, said Japan had proven its ability as host of the 2019 World Cup and was "squarely in the middle of that conversation" for the 2035 or 2039 edition.

"Prior to (the 2019 World Cup), people were skeptical about the ability of the Japanese to deliver a world-class tournament. We now know that Japan can, and there is now enormous confidence in the world about bringing a tournament here," Robinson said.

The former Wallabies flanker was joined in Tokyo by World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin, who said the pair had held talks about the future tournaments with the Japan Rugby Football Union and local business partners.

They said World Rugby wanted to decide the 2035 host nation by the time of the 2027 World Cup in Australia, which will see the tournament expand to 24 teams. The United States is set to host in 2031.

Robinson said Japanese rugby is "now a significant high-performance union both in the men's and women's game" and will have the opportunity to further elevate its standing via the Nations Championship scheduled to kick off next year.

The biennial competition is planned for non-World Cup years and will initially feature the Six Nations and Rugby Championship countries, plus Japan and Fiji.

"For the Japanese to be a participant in that tier-1 competition from day one is a significant development," Robinson said.

The Australian said growth of women's rugby, both in sevens and the 15-a-side game, would be one of his main goals as World Rugby chair.

"We are heavily focused on that part of our sport and the role Japan and Asia can play in that," he said.