Rugby World Cup 2023: France in Pool A with New Zealand and Italy

France, the host country, will be in Pool A of the 2023 Rugby World Cup alongside New Zealand, Italy, the qualifying teams from "Americas 1" and "Africa 1" (see details and qualification procedure below), following the draw held at the Palais Brongniart (Paris, FRA) in the presence French President Emmanuel Macron, on 14/12/2020.

South Africa, defending champions, are in Pool B with Ireland and Scotland. Pool C includes Wales, Australia, Fiji, and Pool D includes England, Japan and Argentina.

The 2023 World Cup will be contested by 20 teams, 12 of which automatically qualified after finishing among the top three in their Pool at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. These 12 teams were in the top three Bands (Bands 1, 2 and 3), according to their World Rugby ranking on 01/01/2020 (see below).

The full schedule is expected to be unveiled in February 2021, when the 2023 World Rugby ticket office opens.

• "France has proven expertise in organising major sporting events, particularly rugby events. While we are going through a difficult period, my thoughts are with the whole rugby sector, amateur and…