Rugby World Cup 2023: Tough draw for Scotland

The draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup has taken place in Paris.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup will take place in France from September 8 to October 21. Picture: Michel Euler/AP

It’s the tenth edition of the tournament and will be played in nine cities in France.

Scotland have been drawn in Pool B alongside holders South Africa, Ireland, and two qualifiers, Europe 2 and Asia/Pacific 1.

Scotland were in the third band of seeds after failing to qualify from their group at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

It’s a tough draw for the Scots who lost to Ireland in the pool section last year and to South Africa at the same stage in 2015.

Realistically, Scotland will need to beat one of the two heavyweights to qualify for the quarter-finals.

They will be led at the tournament by Gregor Townsend who signed a contract extension last week. He is the first Scotland coach to take charge of the team at two World Cups since Ian McGeechan.

Hosts France have been drawn in Pool A with New Zealand, Italy and two qualifiers, Africa 1 and Americas 1.

Pool C consists of Australia, Wales, Fiji, Europe 1 qualifier and a nation from the final qualifying tournament.

England are in Pool D with Japan, Argentina and qualifiers Oceania 1 and Americas 2.

The tournament will kick off on September 8, 2023, with the final scheduled for the Stade de France in Paris on October 21.

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