Newsroom | Welsh Rugby Union | Official Website : Ruddock pleased to be pooled with Australia

Ruddock joined the VIP audience in Dublin as senior IRB members conducted a draw that will see Wales pitted against Australia in the pool stages of the 2007 competition. Ruddock, just two weeks into his tenure as Wales boss, had an excited glint in his eye as he mused over the future match up.

"We are extremely excited about the draw we have been dealt for Rugby World Cup 2007," said Ruddock. "It will provide us with a good opportunity to test this Wales team against one of the world's top sides in double World Champions Australia.

"The clash with the Aussies will bring back fond memories of the World Cup in 1999 when we ran them close and hopefully we will be in a position to go one better this time."

Rugby World Cup 2007 Draw

Pool A
England
South Africa
Oceania 1
Americas 3
Repechage 2

Pool B
Australia
Wales
Oceania 2
Americas 2
Asia 1

Pool C
New Zealand
Scotland
Europe 1
Europe 2
Repechage 1

Pool D
France
Ireland
Americas 1
Europe 3
Africa 1

Fly half Sam Davies has proved an invaluable member of Wales Under 20, guiding Wales' charge to the semi finals of the Junior Worl Championship where they will tomorrow face South Africa.

Wales Under 20 head coach Danny Wilson believes his side can go one better than last year and make it through to a first Junior World Championship final after a bruising pool game against Argentina

Members of the WRU Board were invited to attend a training session where sumo wrestlers were being put through their paces and as WRU President Dennis Gethin reveals, the Tokyo visit will live long in the memory.