Pools for the 2023 World Cup have been released following a draw that took place on Monday 14 December in Paris.
Twelve teams – champions South Africa, England, New Zealand, Wales, Japan, France, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Argentina and Fiji – have already qualified for the tournament having finished in the top three of their pools at RWC 2019.
The remaining eight places will be determined by a series of qualifying tournaments in 2021 and 2022, including a four-team, final qualification tournament to decide the 20th and final qualifier. Under the current system, Europe and the Americas are guaranteed two places apiece at Rugby World Cup 2023, with one place each for Oceania, Africa and Asia/Pacific.
Kenya will be in Pool A if they qualify for the World Cup as African Champions. The Rugby Africa Cup winner will be in the same pool with Three-time World Champions New Zealand, hosts France, Italy and Americas winner.
Simbas are yet to qualify for the World Cup and will be looking to do so first time in history in 2022. They will, however, face opposition from Namibia, Zimbabwe and Uganda. Should they finish second again in Rugby Africa Cup, they will head to the final qualifying round- The Repechage.
Pool B has Champions South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, the team that will win the Asia Pacific competition and the side that will finish second in Europe’s qualifiers.
Wales headline Pool C and they will face off with Australia, Fiji, Europe’s winner and Repechage winner. The final pool has England, Japan, Argentina, Oceania winner and America’s runners up.
2023 Rugby World Cup Pools:
Pool A: New Zealand, France, Italy, Africa 1, America 1
Pool B: South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Asia Pacific 1, Europe 2
Pool C: Wales, Australia, Fiji, Europe 1, Final Qualifier winner
Pool D: England, Japan, Argentina, Oceania 1, America’s 2
Rugby World Cup 2023 Pools THREAD 🙌
First up, in Pool A we have:
New Zealand
France
Italy
Americas 1
Africa 1#RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/S4ZJQ9lQQ1— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) December 14, 2020
