Rugby World Cup 2023 – Groups to take shape today!

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By Smile Staff Reporter


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World champions Springboks will find out whom they will start their title defence against, at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, later this afternoon.

The global showpiece will feature Twenty nations in four pools of five teams, which has been the norm since the 2003 RWC in Australia and will be picked at random from five, four-team bands.

South Africa, New Zealand, England and Wales are included in the first band, following their performance at the 2019 RWC in Japan which saw them progress to the semi-final stage of the competition.

Band two and three were determined using the World Rugby rankings from 1 January 2020. Two has Ireland; hosts France; Fiji and Italy, while three features Scotland; Argentina; Fiji and Italy.

Band four and five is reserved for qualifying teams from the Americas; Europe; Africa; Oceania and Asia/Pacific.

The live draw will be hosted by Elma Smit and Ugo Monye, starting with a preview at 13:15. The actual draw will get underway at 13h30.

Smile Staff Reporter
Smile Staff Reporter

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