Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has ordered plans for Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic stadium to be ditched amid public anger over its $2.75 billion price tag.

The decision means the organisers of the 2019 Rugby World Cup will have to find a new venue for the final.

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“I have decided we must go back to the drawing board,” Mr Abe said after meeting top Japanese sports officials.

“We have looked at the logistics and construction period and I have made this decision because I was assured that we can definitely complete construction on time.

“We must control costs as far as possible. We are determined to draw up the best possible plan, and we have to draft that plan as quickly as possible.”

Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid’s futuristic design had been met with fury by many Japanese architects.

What began as a row over cosmetics gave way to widespread discontent and public bickering over finances.

Construction costs for the national stadium have nearly doubled to 252 billion yen ($2.75 billion), which put it on track to become the world’s most expensive stadium.

Sports minister Hakubun Shimomura said a new bidding process would be launched.

“We will decide the design in six months,” Mr Shimomura said.

“From design to completion of construction, 50-plus months is looked at. The aim is to finish it by the spring of 2020.”

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it had noted the decision and indicated it would closely follow the new stadium plan to make sure the Olympic deal is kept.

“The national stadium is a national project, which will serve the people of Japan for many years to come,” IOC vice president and head of the Tokyo coordinating commission John Coates said.

“This is why the Japanese government is best placed to decide on what is appropriate for this venue.

“We understand that the review of the stadium will not affect its delivery for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and we will work with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee to ensure that what is needed for the Games is delivered in the revised plan.”

The knock-on effect

The 2019 Rugby World Cup became an early casualty of the decision, with organisers forced to find alternative venues in Tokyo or Yokohama for the final and other matches.

“Unfortunately we cannot build the stadium in time for the Rugby World Cup,” Mr Abe said.

“But the government remains fully committed to supporting the tournament.”

In a statement late on Friday, Ms Hadid’s office denied the high cost of the stadium was due to the design.

“The real challenge for the stadium has been agreeing an acceptable construction cost against the backdrop of steep annual increases in construction costs in Tokyo and a fixed deadline,” a statement posted on the architect’s official website read.

Earlier this week, Tadao Ando, the Japanese architect who oversaw the selection of Ms Hadid’s plans, backed her blueprint but expressed concern over the soaring costs, which dwarfed those of the last two Summer Olympics.

London spent around $920 million on the main venue for the 2012 Games, while Beijing’s 2008 “Bird’s Nest” stadium cost less than $700 million.