Rugby World Cup 2023 – Groups to take shape today!

Published on

By Smile Staff Reporter


Add Smile FM on Google

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

Latest articles

Previous article
The Western Cape covid-19 infection rate has increased to more than 153,840 cases. To date, 125,700 people have already recovered from the virus, with more than 28,000 people that still have active forms of the virus. To date, 5,097 Western Cape residents have died due to covid-19 related complications.
Next article
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says her country has agreed to a quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia. Ardern said trips under the agreement, could begin early next year. Travelers from New Zealand have been allowed to enter most Australian states without quarantine since October. So far though, this has been a one-way agreement, meaning they must do 14 days of managed isolation on their return to New Zealand. Australians are not allowed into New Zealand at all, unless they have an exemption.

UPDATE: Two arrests following murder of former Knysna mayor Aubrey Tsengwa

Smile Staff Reporter -
 Western Cape serious violent crime unit detectives have arrested two suspects on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, following the killing of Knysna councillor...

Pressure on the Springboks as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry moves to Cape Town

Smile Staff Reporter -
 Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says his team has been in difficult positions before and knows exactly what is required to keep the Rugby Championship...

Specialised hazardous materials (Hazmat) equipment handed over

Smile Staff Reporter -
 The Western Cape Government has handed over specialised hazardous materials (Hazmat) equipment to the Cape Winelands District Municipality. This is as part of its...