The International Rugby Board today confirmed that the Rugby World Cup 2011 pool allocation draw will take place in London on December 1, 2008. Importantly, for the first time, the IRB World Rankings will be utilised to place teams into bands for the draw.
Ireland are currenly ranked 8th in the world and will need to secure or improve on this position in order to ensure they are in one of the top bands come draw time.
The venue for the draw will be a very unique facility – Tourism New Zealand’s ‘Giant Rugby Ball’ that will be located at Potters Field Park in the heart of London, adjacent to Tower Bridge and opposite the Tower of London.
It is the same facility that was located on the Champs de Mars next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris during Rugby World Cup 2007.
IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The IRB is delighted that the Rugby World Cup pool allocation draw will take place in London on December 1 at the conclusion of the annual November Test series.
“With the senior Southern Hemisphere teams in Europe at this time of year it was deemed appropriate that the draw should take place in London. It also follows the IRB Awards which take place in the city on November 23.
“The Giant Rugby Ball is a unique facility and had been designed to promote New Zealand as a tourism destination. Of course in 2011 New Zealand will host the seventh Rugby World Cup tournament.
“Therefore, it is fitting that as it is in London during this time we have chosen to use the iconic facility for the draw.
“The draw itself will see the 20 team places allocated into four pools of five teams. In an exciting move, and as announced earlier this year, the IRB World Rankings – as they stand on December 1 this year – will be used for the first time to band the 12 automatically qualified teams for the draw.
“The top four teams in the rankings will be allocated to band one – or the top line in each pool – and drawn randomly into the pools. The next four teams will be allocated into band two with the remaining four teams allocated into band three.
“The eight remaining qualifying places will be allocated into bands four and five according to playing strength and also drawn randomly,” Lapasset added.
Rugby New Zealand 2011 CEO Martin Snedden said the announcement in December would bring together two exciting components of RWC 2011.
“Firstly, the new draw format has created a contest for positions based on the IRB World Rankings which has added a new dimension to this year’s international rugby season,” he explained.
“The impact of this on the pool allocations when they are drawn will be of keen interest across the rugby world.
“The giant ball, which has been developed by our partner, the New Zealand Government through Tourism New Zealand, was a huge hit in Paris during RWC 2007 and we are delighted to see it make its next appearance in London.
“By staging the announcement at the ball, Rugby World Cup Limited will be giving the international rugby media and other guests a flavour of New Zealand and all that is on offer to those planning to visit for RWC 2011,” Snedden added.
Banding of 12 automatic qualified teams –
Band 1: Top four ranked qualified teams (1 to 4 in IRB World Rankings)
Band 2: Next four ranked qualified teams (5 to 8 in IRB World Rankings)
Band 3: Bottom four ranked qualified teams (according to World Rankings)
As for RWC 2007, the eight qualifier positions will be randomly allocated into the final two bands:
Band 4: Oceania 1, Europe 1, Europe 2, Americas 1
Band 5: Africa 1, Asia 1, Americas 2, Play-off place
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