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The RWC 2023 draw takes place today. It is being streamed live on the Wold Rugby website. Click here to watch the draw.
How is the draw structured?
RWC 2023 will have 20 teams. 12 are prequalified teams. They qualified automatically by virtue of finishing in the top 3 of their respective pools at RWC 2019. The 12 teams are champions South Africa in addition to Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales.
World Rugby is using dated rankings for the seeding. Due to COVID-19 the rankings from January 01, 2020 are being utilized. This sees both winners and losers.
The teams are divided into five bands of four teams. Those in the same bands cannot be in the same group. The bands are as follows:
Band 1: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Wales
Band 2: Ireland, France, Australia, Japan
Band 3: Scotland, Argentina, Fiji, Italy
Band 4: Oceania 1, Americas 1, Europe 1, Asia / Pacific 1
Band 5: Africa 1, Europe 2, Americas 2, Repechage Winner
