Paris (AFP)
France, host country of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, finds itself in hat 2 for the competition's draw and will therefore not be seeded, World Rugby announced on Friday.
The world rugby body explained that the drawing of lots for the 2023 Men's World Cup "will be based on the World Rugby ranking established on January 1, 2020".
"Given the impact of Covid-19 on international rugby matches in 2020, and to be fair to qualified teams, the World Cup board has decided that the world ranking dating from January 1, 2020 will be used for distribute the five hats, "explained World Rugby.
Thus, South Africa, reigning world champion, New Zealand, England and Wales constitute hat 1, the one with the seeds of each group.
The French are placed with Ireland, Australia and Japan.
In Hat 3 are Scotland, Argentina, Fiji and Italy.
The draw for the competition is scheduled for December 14 in Paris.
Twenty teams will participate in the tenth edition of the Rugby World Cup, scheduled from September 8 to October 21, 2023 in France.
© 2020 AFP