The draw for the 2003 Rugby World Cup was released today but the final twenty teams competing for the tournament won't be known until early next year. The eight automatic qualifiers for 2003 were named in the schedule but the remaining twelve spots will be decided by a series of qualifying tournaments and play-offs in Europe, Aisa, the Americans, Africa and Oceania.
Europe will provide four teams, which will be decided by the end of the year along with the two teams from the Oceania and American zones. One team will take part in the tournment from Asia and Africa. Another team from each of the five regions will progress to a tournament next year, which will provide the final two qualifiers.
Ireland are among the countries still trying to qualify for the finals along with Italy, Fiji, Samoa and Canada. More than 200 games will be played before the final 12 qualifiers are known. More than 100 have already been played since the first match between Luxemboug and Norway kicked off in September.
Filed by James Shortt
