PARIS: Hosts France will play three-time winners New Zealand in the pool phase of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, after the draw was made in Paris today.
Holders South Africa will face Ireland and 2003 champions England will take on Japan, who hosted the last World Cup in 2019.
The All Blacks will also meet Italy and two qualifiers, one from the Americas and another from Africa, in Pool A.
The Springboks will also go up against Scotland and a side from Asia/Pacific and a further European nation.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, seeding levels for the tournament draw were based on the world rankings on Jan 1, 2020 instead of after the autumn internationals as originally intended.
Organisers also moved the event forward to be able to start selling tickets in March next year, before ticket sales for the Paris 2024 Olympics begin in 2022.
The dozen countries from the draw will be joined by eight qualifiers, with the final lineup known by Nov 22.