Rugby World Cup 2019 Draw Set for 2017

The Rugby World Cup 2019 draw is officially  set for 2017, World Rugby confirmed today. It signifies a change to the process from that of Rugby World Cup 2015 as the seeding will be delayed by six months.

For Rugby World Cup 2015, hosted by England and Wales, the draw took place in December of 2012. World Rankings at the time were used to seed the twelve pre-qualified countries into three bands of four each. The result was the controversial Pool of Death with Wales’ temporary low ranking resulting in a pool featuring both host nations and Australia.

Neither Fiji nor Uruguay were able to perform to the standards they perhaps could have had they been in alternative pools but the ultimate lesson came in England’s elimination after three games. Indeed England’s home match against Uruguay occurred after England had lost to both Wales and Australia.

There is no guarantee that such a pool will not be prevented but by delaying the draw until May 2017 the likelihood has, without question, been diminished. Not all, but many, of the pre-qualified countries will have played a number of additional matches. The 2017 Six Nations is the clear instance of a competition set to take on a new meaning.

Italy’s dreadful campaign earlier this year will be motivation enough but the possibility of notching up two wins may carry with it added value. Similarly, with Georgia ranked above Italy the Italians would be screwed to act swiftly to get a test match in Tbilisi added to the calendar.

Italy is the lowest ranked of the twelve automatic qualifiers. The remaining eleven are – Argentina, Australia, England, France, Georgia, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales.

For Italy the goal is to be finding a way into the second band, meaning be ranked 8th or higher. The same is true for others albeit finishing in the top four is the ultimate desire for all. Argentina was in band 1 for Rugby World Cup 2011 and band 2 for Rugby World Cup 2015. The path to being band 1 starts at home against Italy in Santa Fé on June 11.

The additional prize is the possibility of playing in the same pool as Japan, the host nation of Rugby World Cup 2019. Japan are presently ranked 10th in the world, one place behind Scotland whom they will host for two test matches next month. The result of these matches may, indeed, prove to be central to the positioning of both countries.

Rankings at present are displayed below.

• Neither Fiji nor Tonga earned automatic qualification.
• Band A nations are ranked 1-4
• Band B nations are ranked 5-8
• Band C nations are the lowest four of those to have pre-qualified.