(JF Wagner/sunlight-images.com)

The two Rugby World Cup qualifiers from the Americas have been given tough draws for the 2011 event in New Zealand.

The RWC 2011 pool allocation draw took place in London.

The Americas qualifiers, expected to be the US and Canada, have drawn Pools A and C where they will face stiff competition from some of the world’s best teams.

Defending champions South Africa find themselves in arguably the toughest pool where they will face Fiji, the side that nearly derailed their charge to the title in 2007, and Wales, the 2008 Six Nations champions.

Tournament hosts New Zealand will be looking to avenge their RWC 2007 quarterfinal exit at the hands of France when the sides meet in Pool A, while England will meet long-time rivals Scotland for the first time in the pool stages.

Australia, the Rugby World Cup champions in 1991 and 1999, will face three European teams in Pool C, headed by Ireland and Italy.

The RWC 2011 pools are:

Pool A:
New Zealand
France
Tonga
Americas 1
Asia 1

Pool B:
Argentina
England
Scotland
Europe 1
Playoff winner

Pool C:
Australia
Ireland
Italy
Europe 2
Americas 2

Pool D:
South Africa
Wales
Fiji
Oceania 1
Africa 1

For the first time the IRB World Rankings as of November 30, 2008 were used to seed the 12 qualified teams for RWC 2011.

The remaining eight available qualifying places still available for the tournament – Americas 1, Americas 2, Asia 1, Africa 1, Europe 1, Europe 2, Oceania 1 and Final Playoff Place – were divided between the four pools.