BOOST FOR WALES
Pivac’s men among top group of seeds for 2023 Rugby World Cup
WALES have received a significant boost with news they will be top seeds for the 2023 Rugby World Cup draw taking place in December.
The surprise news came as World Rugby confirmed seedings for the draw will be determined based on the world rankings in January 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic hit.
World Rugby made the decision whilst acknowledging that not all qualified teams will play this year and as such, deemed it the fairest scenario.
It had been expected that the seedings for the draw would be determined based on the world rankings following the conclusion of the bloated autumn schedule.
Wayne Pivac’s men have slipped to sixth in the world after a disappointing start to the 2020 Six Nations and there was the real threat that a bad autumn campaign would see them fall below eighth place in the world list.
Such a scenario would have resulted in them being third seeds for the draw and facing a horror Pool, as in 2015 when they drew England and
Australia. However, in January 2020, Wales were fourth in the world, making them top seeds for the draw.
It lifts a huge weight off the shoulders of Pivac, who will now be afforded a little more freedom to experiment with his squad and give opportunities to uncapped or inexperienced players.
While results will always matter, the Wales boss can now rotate his squad safe in the knowledge that the outcome of the games will have no bearing on the draw, which is to take place in Paris on December 14.
The decision also confirms that Wales will face one of Ireland, Australia, France and Japan, and one of Scotland, Argentina, Fiji, Italy plus two currently unknown qualifiers in the pool stages of the 2023 global showpiece.
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “While COVID-19 means that, in the interests of fairness for all qualified teams, we have needed to draw a line under the rankings at the beginning of the year.
“Everyone should appreciate that this is a unique time, we can’t delay, and we must continue to accelerate planning for what is going to be a truly spectacular and special Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.
“The RWC 2023 Draw will be a greatly anticipated beacon of hope and excitement as we look towards France 2023 and beyond the global pandemic.”
The seedings for the 2023 Rugby World Cup draw; Seed 1: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Wales Seed 2: Ireland, Australia, France, Japan Seed 3: Scotland, Argentina, Fiji, Italy Seed 4: Oceania 1, Europe 1, Americas 1, Asia / Pacific 1 Seed 5: Africa 1, Europe 2, Americas 2, Final Qualifier Winner