Pool A: Rugby World Cup Draw 2019

The pool draw for the Rugby World Cup 2019 took place in Kyoto, Japan at 17:00 local time (08:00 GMT).

The seedings and bands were based on the world rankings at the end of the Six Nations.

The opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup will take place at Tokyo Stadium on 20th September 2019, and the final match will be held at International Stadium Yokohama in Kanagawa.

The final 8 places will be decided through the global qualification process, culminating at the end of 2018.

Hosts Japan will face a double Celtic threat in Ireland and Scotland, with the rest of Pool A made up of the Europe 1 and Play-off winner qualifiers.

Pool A

1. Ireland 

2. Scotland 

3. Japan

4. Europe 1 (Highest-ranked team, excluding Georgia, from the Rugby Europe Championship)

5. Play-off Winner (Third-placed team from Oceania (Fiji, Samoa or Tonga) plays second highest-ranked team, excluding Georgia, from the Rugby Europe Championship)

Latest World Cup Odds: