Georgia to face Australia, Wales at 2019 Rugby World Cup

Georgian national rugby team will face world’s number three team Australia as well as Wales among other competitors in their 2019 Rugby World Cup pool.

Held earlier today, the draw for the tournament split the tournament’s participating teams into four pools.

The Lelos will play in Pool D of the tournament, which also includes Australia and Wales. The two remaining berths of the group will be occupied by winning team of the Oceania qualifying region, and second-placed nation of the Americas.

The result of the draw saw reaction from coaches of the participating teams, including Georgia’s Milton Haig:

REACTION: @GeorgianRugby head coach Milton Haig reacts to his side being drawn in Pool D with @qantaswallabies and @welshrugbyunionpic.twitter.com/jQfVGy8dem

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) 10 May 2017

The draw involved 12 teams, including Georgia, who qualified directly for the 2019 World Cup. Teams claiming the remaining eight slots will be determined in upcoming qualifying matches.

Fiji is most likely to gain the Oceania spot in the pool. The last remaining slot will be occupied by the winner of a two-leg fixture pitting the defeated team of the upcoming United States-Canada fixture against winner of the CONSUR Rugby Championship involving Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Brazil.

See a short profile of Georgia’s Rugby World Cup appearances below:

In Pool D it's Georgia! #RWC2019pic.twitter.com/Ozvzool43D

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) 10 May 2017

The draw event was hosted in Kyoto, Japan, where the 2019 World Cup will be played.

The tournament will mark the ninth edition of the Rugby World Cup and will feature 20 nations in matches played from September 20-November 2.

Georgia qualified directly for the World Cup after finishing third in Pool C of the 2015 tournament in England, achieving an automatic qualification for the first time in their history.