As the graphic below illustrates, 12 teams from Japan 2019 qualified directly for Rugby World Cup 2023 by virtue of a top-three finish in their pool.
They are: champions South Africa; runners-up England; bronze medallists New Zealand; losing semi-finalists Wales; losing quarter-finalists Ireland, Australia, France and Japan; and Scotland, Argentina, Fiji and Italy, who finished third in their respective pools.
These 12 nations will be joined by eight teams that emerge from the global qualification process, which will combine both regional and cross-regional qualifiers. These qualifiers will be known as Americas 1 and 2, Africa 1, Asia /Pacific 1, Europe 1 and 2, Oceania 1 and the winner of the Final Qualification Tournament, which will feature four teams given another chance to qualify.
The qualification process was announced by World Rugby in June 2020 following consultation with its member unions and regions at the beginning of the year and a full review of performance at Rugby World Cup 2019. The RWC 2023 qualification process is designed to deliver the top teams in the world to the showcase tournament while also promoting a genuine opportunity for all unions.
