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England rugby fan: 'Mates dared me to go to Japan for the World Cup Final' | England rugby fan: 'Mates dared me to go to Japan for the World Cup Final' |
(about 8 hours later) | |
"Four or five pints down" is how rugby fan, Rob Lewis, describes himself when his mates set him a challenge last Saturday morning. | "Four or five pints down" is how rugby fan, Rob Lewis, describes himself when his mates set him a challenge last Saturday morning. |
They were watching England's semi-final win over New Zealand in the World Cup when: "They said 'you wouldn't go to Japan' and I'm like, 'yeah, I would.'" | They were watching England's semi-final win over New Zealand in the World Cup when: "They said 'you wouldn't go to Japan' and I'm like, 'yeah, I would.'" |
So, Rob immediately booked a flight to Tokyo via Paris for £650. The lack of a hotel room or match tickets didn't stop him, neither did being on crutches after a recent knee operation. | So, Rob immediately booked a flight to Tokyo via Paris for £650. The lack of a hotel room or match tickets didn't stop him, neither did being on crutches after a recent knee operation. |
Some might call him impulsive, but Newsbeat wanted to know more about Rob's adventure, so we followed his journey. | Some might call him impulsive, but Newsbeat wanted to know more about Rob's adventure, so we followed his journey. |
Sunday 27 October | Sunday 27 October |
Rob starts scouring Twitter for tickets. | Rob starts scouring Twitter for tickets. |
"I got an offer from someone who I believe is a legit seller and handed over £1,000 for two tickets," says Rob, 36, who's from Sunbury on Thames. | "I got an offer from someone who I believe is a legit seller and handed over £1,000 for two tickets," says Rob, 36, who's from Sunbury on Thames. |
Oh Rob, was that really such a good idea? | Oh Rob, was that really such a good idea? |
Monday 28 October | Monday 28 October |
He tells Newsbeat he is nervous, but that he has "good faith in humanity." | He tells Newsbeat he is nervous, but that he has "good faith in humanity." |
Tuesday 29 October | Tuesday 29 October |
"Bit of a disaster this morning - the tickets didn't arrive," Rob explains to Newsbeat. | "Bit of a disaster this morning - the tickets didn't arrive," Rob explains to Newsbeat. |
The courier had been due to deliver them before 10am, but he decided to catch his flight anyway. | The courier had been due to deliver them before 10am, but he decided to catch his flight anyway. |
In Paris, Rob sounds cheery despite his dilemma. | In Paris, Rob sounds cheery despite his dilemma. |
"Bonjour from Charles de Gaulle airport. It's flight one of two. The stranger on Twitter I sent £1,000 hasn't been very chatty today," he laughs. | "Bonjour from Charles de Gaulle airport. It's flight one of two. The stranger on Twitter I sent £1,000 hasn't been very chatty today," he laughs. |
"I'll keep you posted." | "I'll keep you posted." |
Wednesday 30 October | Wednesday 30 October |
Rob arrives in Tokyo. | Rob arrives in Tokyo. |
"Watched last year's Rugby World Cup Final on the flight over," he tweets. | "Watched last year's Rugby World Cup Final on the flight over," he tweets. |
Still no word on the tickets, but, every cloud Rob, every cloud... | Still no word on the tickets, but, every cloud Rob, every cloud... |
Thursday 31 October | Thursday 31 October |
"Konnichiwa. I'm in Shinjuku - there are lots of neon signs everywhere, lots of hustle and bustle." | "Konnichiwa. I'm in Shinjuku - there are lots of neon signs everywhere, lots of hustle and bustle." |
"There are a few rugby fans dotted around and now we're going to go on the hunt for some pints. I'll catch you again soon. Sayonara." | "There are a few rugby fans dotted around and now we're going to go on the hunt for some pints. I'll catch you again soon. Sayonara." |
Friday 1 November | Friday 1 November |
"It's been a mad few days," says Rob. | "It's been a mad few days," says Rob. |
But there was positive news with the ticket seller offering to leave the tickets at the stadium. | But there was positive news with the ticket seller offering to leave the tickets at the stadium. |
"I still have faith in humanity that these two tickets will turn up," Rob tells Newsbeat hopefully. | "I still have faith in humanity that these two tickets will turn up," Rob tells Newsbeat hopefully. |
"Tomorrow morning is crunch time when I visit the box office in Yokohama." | "Tomorrow morning is crunch time when I visit the box office in Yokohama." |
Saturday - match day! | Saturday - match day! |
"The two tickets I got from a stranger on Twitter didn't materialise, I went to the ticket office and they just weren't there," says Rob. | |
He bought back up tickets with a QR code but they didn't work when staff tried to scan them, he was told to leave the stadium. | |
Rob says, "I was gutted." | |
But then he got a message from a lady he'd met earlier and she had told someone about his story. | |
Through this woman he managed to get tickets to the game for free. | |
"You could not make this up." | |
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. | Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. |
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |
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