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LIVE - Rugby World Cup Pool Draw

By Fred Culazzo
RWC 2015 draw

The draw for the 2019 Rugby World Cup is taking place in Kyoto Japan. 20 teams will be split into four pools of five teams.

12 qualified teams from Rugby World Cup 2015 will be seeded based on the World Rankings.  You can watch the draw live below:

https://www.facebook.com/worldrugby/videos/10154624263798123/

Confirmed Groups:

  • Pool A: Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Europe 1, Play-off winner
  • Pool B: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Africa 1, Repechage winner
  • Pool C: England, France, Argentina, Americas 1, Oceania 2
  • Pool D: Australia, Wales, Georgia, Oceania 1, Americas 2

The remaining eight teams will come through the global qualification process, which kicked off in 2016. The timing of the draw has raised debate given it's a full two and a half years out from Rugby World Cup 2019, but the the organisers say it's necessary for planning and preparation.

Japan Rugby 2019 organising committee Chief Executive Akira Shimazu said: "We are determined to make the most of this opportunity to showcase the very best of Japan to the world, and the best of rugby to Japan. It is very exciting."

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