By Graeme Gillespie
Wales head coach Warren Gatland is ‘pretty happy’ with the draw his side have been handed for the 2019 Rugby World Cup being held in Japan.
Wales face a considerably kinder draw in the 2019 Rugby World Cup than what they received for the 2015 tournament, with Australia and Georgia being drawn to face Warren Gatland’s men in Pool D in Japan.
Wales will also face qualifiers from Oceania 1 and Americas 2, which could be Fiji and Canada.
“Obviously we get Australia again and it looks like we could also get Fiji so there are a couple of teams from 2015,” he said from Kyoto.
“We’re pretty happy with the draw – every group is going to have some tough teams in it but from a Welsh perspective, I’m happy how it’s turned out.”
Gatland’s Wales side will get an early chance to gauge pool opponents Australia and Georgia in the autumn as both will visit Principality Stadium.
“It’s going to be tough and competitive but that is what you want – we have an early opportunity to play Australia and Georgia so that is going to create a lot of interest of the next couple of years,” added Gatland.
Wales found themselves in the Group of Death for the previous tournament where hosts England, Australia, Fiji and Uruguay were the opposition.
Wales will be seeking revenge for their defeat to the Wallabies at Twickenham which saw Gatland’s men finish second in the pool.
England have been handed a tough Pool C with France and Argentina, plus Americas 1 (either USA or Canada) and Oceania 2 (Fiji, Samoa or Tonga).
Ireland face Scotland and hosts Japan with Europe 1 and the final play-off winner in Pool A.
Champions New Zealand drawn in Pool B with South Africa, Italy, Africa 1 and the winner of the Repechage.
Pools for Rugby World Cup 2019
Pool A: Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Europe 1, Play-Off winner
Pool B: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Africa 1, Repechage winner
Pool C: England, France, Argentina, Americas 1, Oceania 2
Pool D: Australia, Wales, Georgia, Oceania 1, Americas 2
