Rugby World Cup: Wallabies to meet Wales, Georgia, Oceania and America qualifiers at 2019 tournament – ABC Online

Updated May 10, 2017 18:45:42

The Wallabies have received a decent draw for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, set to meet Wales, Georgia and two qualifiers in Pool D.

The Aussies are a 'Band One' team and drew the lowest-ranked 'Band Two' side in Wales, with Georgia ranked second-last in Band Three.

Australia and Wales met in the group stage of the 2015 tournament, with the Wallabies winning 15-6 in London.

They ultimately fell just short in 2015, losing to the All Blacks in the final of the eighth edition, hosted by England.

The Wallabies will also be hoping they can fair better than those who advanced from Pool D in 2015, when Ireland and Argentina progressed and were both summarily thumped in the quarter-finals by Argentina and New Zealand from Pool C.

The 2019 tournament will mark the first time it has been hosted in Asia, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at the draw he was excited to be a part of bringing the pinnacle of the sport to the continent.

"This is even more of a thrill than when I played Super Mario at the Rio Olympics," Mr Abe said, referring to his star turn at the 2016 Games' closing ceremony.

The 2019 World Cup kicks off on September 20 and wraps up on November 2.

Topics: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, japan, australia

First posted May 10, 2017 18:36:27

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Rugby World Cup: Wallabies to meet Wales, Georgia, Oceania and America qualifiers at 2019 tournament - ABC Online