World Rugby has announced that the draw for the pool stages of the 2019 Rugby World Cup will be held in May of next year.
The game’s global governing body appears to have settled on a compromise date aimed at appeasing all parties ahead of the crucial World Cup draw.
Pool allocation draw for #RWC2019 set for May 2017 in Japan: https://t.co/bfnwOgslXY pic.twitter.com/xtgkauLAif
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) May 11, 2016
Tournaments hosts Japan had lobbied for the draw to take place in late 2016, keen to sell tickets for specific matches as soon as possible with the Olympics coming to the country in 2020.
Many of rugby’s leading nations, however, were keen to push the draw as late as possible, to reduce the chances of another pool of death that contributed to England’s group-stage elimination in 2015.
Having the draw at the end of his year could have been a setback to Ireland’s prospects of a favourable seeding as Joe Schmidt’s side are facing into a tough run of fixtures for the rest of 2016 – including three Tests against South Africa and two November internationals against New Zealand.
The later draw gives Ireland, currently ranked seventh in the world, 12 games in which maintain a top eight position in the rankings. Those include next year’s Six Nations games.
“The pool allocation draw is an important milestone in the run-in to any Rugby World Cup and it really helps to build excitement and momentum,” said World Rugby’s outgoing chairman Bernard Lapasset.
“With the identity of 12 teams already known, it will be of huge interest to players and fans to know which sides will be in their pool for what will be a game-changing tournament in Japan.
“While the draw is closer to the start of the tournament this time around compared to the previous Rugby World Cup, it is necessary to conduct it well in advance for logistical reasons and to allow for an effective ticketing programme to be implemented.”
🎥 Bill Beaumont and Agustín Pichot on becoming World Rugby Chairman and Vice-Chairman after unanimous votehttps://t.co/UXB4wMLeSX
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) May 11, 2016
Meanwhile, Former England and Lions star Beaumont was unanimously elected as World Rugby’s new chairman as expected in the governing body’s board meeting in Dublin.
