But to qualify, Canada an observer of 2023 Rugby World Cup attract Paris

By Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press on December 13, 2020.

Rugby Canada males’s nationwide crew Head Coach Kingsley Jones appears to be like on throughout a press convention in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. Whereas Canada has but to guide its ticket to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, it would be taught Monday what awaits come qualification. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Whereas Canada has but to guide its ticket to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, it would be taught Monday what awaits come qualification.

The draw, set for Paris, will decide the 4 five-team teams for the 2023 showcase, scheduled to run Sept. Eight to Oct. 21 in 9 stadiums.

With North American qualifying but to start out, Canada males’s coach Kingsley Jones shall be seeking to see the place Americas 1 and a pair of find yourself within the draw. Each have been positioned within the draw’s fourth pot together with Europe 1 and a pair of.

“Americas 1, Americas 2, we’ve received to seek out out which a type of slots we’ll be. However it will likely be very fascinating to see,” Jones stated.

Likelihood is each could have some powerful firm. An Americas qualifier may land with three groups at present ranked within the high seven on the planet.

The 12 groups already certified, by advantage of ending within the high three of their swimming pools on the 2019 event, are defending champions South Africa, in addition to New Zealand, England, Wales, Eire, France, Australia, Japan, Scotland, Argentina, Fiji and Italy.

Eight extra international locations will be a part of them through regional qualifiers.

The 12 already in have been seeded based mostly on World Rugby’s rankings as of Jan. 1, 2020 – in deference to the COVID-caused havoc on the worldwide schedule – and positioned within the first three four-country pots.

The ultimate pot consists of Africa 1, Oceania 1, Asia/Pacific 1 and the repechage qualifier winner.

There was motion up and down the rankings since January, though Canada has been grounded by the pandemic.

For instance, Wales at present stands ninth however finds itself within the high pot whereas No. 10 Japan is in Pot 2. No. 7 Scotland and No. Eight Argentina, which lately scored a first-ever win over the third-ranked All Blacks, are in Pot 3.

“I’m undecided whether or not being Americas 1 or 2 goes to be that a lot completely different, on type, by the point we get to 2023,” stated Jones.

As a result of pandemic, the 23rd-ranked Canadian males haven’t performed since their closing outing on the 2019 World Cup in Japan – a 66-7 loss to South Africa. Canada’s closing match within the event was referred to as off resulting from Hurricane Hagibis.

The Canadian males (0-3-0) completed fourth of their group behind New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Namibia.

Canada’s qualifying will end by October or November 2022.

Up to now, Americas qualifying has pitted Canada towards the U.S. with the winner securing a World Cup berth and the loser going through a South American crew for the second direct berth. The loser of that match has beforehand had a 3rd shot through a last-chance repechage event.

Earlier than the 2019 occasion, Canada had at all times secured its Americas berth on the first stage of qualifying.

However final trip, the Canadians misplaced the qualifying collection to the U.S. and Uruguay earlier than successful the last-chance repechage event that additionally featured Germany, Hong Kong and Kenya.

The loss to the Individuals value Mark Anscombe his job as Canada coach in August 2017, with Jones taking up.

Qualifying for 2023 has seen numerous permutations within the area. Canadian officers had been led to consider it might contain ends in the Americas Rugby Championship – which entails Canada, the U.S, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and an Argentina reserve aspect – over the following two years.

The most recent qualifying map within the area has the Rugby Americas North 2021 champion going through the Sudamerica Rugby 2021 titleholder within the two-legged Americas 1 Playoff. The winner turns into Americas 1 whereas the loser heads to the Americas 2 Playoff.

The runners-up from the Rugby Americas and Sudamerica tournaments will meet within the two-legged Americas 2 Qualifier with the victor going through off towards the Americas 1 Playoff loser within the two-legged Americas 2 Playoff. The winner turns into Americas 2 within the World Cup area whereas the loser heads to the ultimate world qualification event.

Regardless of the format, the Canadians will face competitors from the 16th-ranked Individuals and No. 18 Uruguay, with No. 26 Brazil and No. 29 Chile seeking to get into the combo.

The Canadian males have made each World Cup area for the reason that event debuted in 1987. However the crew has solely received out of the preliminary spherical as soon as, in 1991 when it misplaced 29-13 to New Zealand within the quarterfinals.

The Canadians are coming off a high-performance camp final month, carried out below pandemic protocols in Langford B.C.

“It was an enormous success,” stated Jones, who introduced in some 36 gamers. “We had no dramas “¦ There was loads of planning in every thing we did, from meal preparations to coaching setting.”

“The planning paid off and it went seamlessly,” he added.

Two scrimmages went with out damage. The roster was largely domestic-based resulting from pandemic-related journey restrictions, with Jones estimating one other dozen elite Canadian gamers are unfold across the globe.

“It was such a useful factor for us to have the ability to have time with the gamers for the primary time in a 12 months,” stated Jones.

The camp additionally marked the primary alternative for brand spanking new senior assistant coach Rob Howley, a former Wales coach and scrum half, to work with the Canadian gamers in particular person.

“It was fabulous,” stated Jones. “I believe the gamers actually loved it. A brand new voice, clearly a really skilled voice “¦ He’s gone house (to Wales) actually excited by what he noticed.”

Jones doubtless received’t get his participant again collectively till the check window in July, which may embody a uncommon match with England. Main League Rugby, which was house to some 50 Canadians final season earlier than video games had been cancelled because of the pandemic, is slated to kick off its 2021 marketing campaign on March 20.

Confirmed 2023 Rugby World Cup Draw Swimming pools (with present world rating)

Pot 1: South Africa (1), New Zealand (3), England (2), Wales (9).

Pot 2:- Eire (5), France (4), Australia (6), Japan (10).

Pot 3: Scotland (7), Argentina (8), Fiji (11) and Italy (14).

Pot 4: Americas 1, Americas 2, Europe 1, Europe 2.

Pot 5: Africa 1, Oceania 1, Asia/Pacific 1, Last Qualifier Winner.

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Observe @NeilMDavidson on Twitter

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Dec. 13, 2020

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