Qualification still needed but now Canada knows what awaits at 2023 Rugby World Cup

Group C consists of No. 6 Australia, No. 9 Wales, No. 11 Fiji, Europe 1 and the winner of the final qualification tournament. Canada which won the last-chance repechage last time out, could also end up in this group.

Group A is similar to Canada’s pool at the 2019 tournament in Japan. The Canadian men (0-3-0) finished last in the pool (on point difference) behind tough opposition in New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Namibia. Canada’s final match against Namibia was called off due to Typhoon Hagibis.

The 2023 rugby showcase is scheduled to run Sept. 8 to Oct. 21 in nine stadiums.

Twelve teams have already qualified, by virtue of finishing in the top three of their pools at the 2019 tournament: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Wales, Ireland, France, Australia, Japan, Scotland, Argentina, Fiji and Italy.

Eight more countries will join them via regional qualifiers, including the Americas.

The 12 teams already qualified were seeded for the draw based on World Rugby’s rankings as of Jan. 1, 2020 — in deference to the COVID-caused havoc on the international schedule — and placed in the first three four-country pots. Americas 1 was in pot 4 and Americas 2 in pot 5.

World Rugby has said in the future, seedings used for the draw will come much closer to the tournament itself.

Due to the pandemic, the 23rd-ranked Canadian men have not played since their final outing at the 2019 World Cup — a 66-7 loss to South Africa on Oct. 8.

Canada’s qualifying for the 2023 tournament will finish by October or November 2022.

In the past, Americas qualifying has pitted Canada against the U.S. with the winner securing a World Cup berth and the loser facing a South American team for the second direct berth. The loser of that match has previously had a third shot via a last-chance repechage tournament.

Before the 2019 event, Canada had always secured its Americas berth at the first stage of qualifying.

But last time out, the Canadians lost qualifying series to the U.S. and Uruguay before winning the repechage tournament that also featured Germany, Hong Kong and Kenya.

The loss to the Americans cost Mark Anscombe his job as Canada coach in August 2017, with former Wales captain Kingsley Jones taking over.

Qualifying for 2023 has seen various permutations in the region. Canadian officials had been led to believe it would involve results in the Americas Rugby Championship — which involves Canada, the U.S, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and an Argentina reserve side — over the next two years.

The latest qualifying map in the region has the Rugby Americas North 2021 champion facing the Sudamerica Rugby 2021 titleholder in the two-legged Americas 1 Playoff. The winner becomes Americas 1 while the loser heads to the Americas 2 Playoff.

The runners-up from the Rugby Americas and Sudamerica tournaments will meet in the two-legged Americas 2 Qualifier with the victor facing off against the Americas 1 Playoff loser in the two-legged Americas 2 Playoff. The winner becomes Americas 2 in the World Cup field while the loser heads to the final world qualification tournament.

Whatever the format, the Canadians will face competition from the 16th-ranked Americans and No. 18 Uruguay, with No. 26 Brazil and No. 29 Chile looking to get into the mix.

Monday’s draw was held in a largely empty Palais Brongniart, with French president Emmanuel Macron, wearing a mask, delivered welcoming words while physically distanced from the draw host.

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont delivered his message remotely.

“Rugby World Cup 2023 will be great for rugby, but not only for rugby. In a world of change and uncertainty accelerated by the global pandemic, it’s important that major events are not just a celebration of sporting performance but a symbol of unity, diversity and change,” said Beaumont.

“It will be the best of rugby, and the best of France,” he added.

The Canadian men have made every World Cup field since the tournament debuted in 1987. But the team has only got out of the preliminary round once, in 1991 when it lost 29-13 to New Zealand in the quarterfinals.

2023 Rugby World Cup draw (with current world rankings)

Group A: New Zealand (3), France (4), Italy (14), America 1, Africa 1.

Group B: South Africa (1), Ireland (5), Scotland (7), Asia/Pacific 1 and Europe 2.

Group C: Wales (9), Australia (6), Fiji (11), Wales (9), Europe 1, winner of the final qualification tournament.

Group D: England (2), Japan (10), Argentina (8), Oceania 1, America 2.

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Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 14, 2020

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Qualification still needed but now Canada knows what awaits at 2023 Rugby World Cup

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