Ireland’s opening fixture of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan will be against familiar foes Scotland.

Joe Schmidt’s side take on their Six Nations rivals in their opening Pool A clash in Yokohama on Sunday 22nd September - with the game kicking off at 8.45am Irish time.

Ireland will then face host nation Japan in Shizuoka on Saturday September 28th - Irish fans will again require an early alarm for an 8.15am kick off.

The final two teams in Pool A are yet to be decided - with Ireland facing the European qualifiers and the winners of a European/Oceania play-off match.

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Ireland will play ‘Europe One’ - likely to be Romania - on Thursday October 3rd in Kobe, at 11.15am.

They then round off their Pool A fixtures with a clash against the play-off winner on October 12th in Fukuoka - an 11.45am kick off.

Elsewhere current world champions New Zealand begin the defence of their crown in a heavyweight Pool B clash against South Africa on Yokohama on Saturday September 21st.

There will be huge pressure on Ireland to finish top of Pool A, with the runners-up facing the winners of Pool B - likely to be New Zealand - ina crunch quarter-final tie in Tokyo on Saturday October 19th.

Should Ireland top their pool they will play their quarter-final in Tokyo on October 20th - with the Springboks their likely opponents.

The semi-finals will take place over the weekend of October 26th/27th - both at the International Stadium in Yokohama - before the tournament’s showpiece at the same ground on November 2nd.

Ticket sales for the tournament will begin in January 2018. Supporters can register their interest at www.rugbyworldcup.com/tickets.

RWC 2019: Ireland fixtures (all fixtures Irish time):

POOL A

Sunday September 22nd, Ireland v Scotland, Yokohama, 8.45am
Saturday September 29th, Ireland v Japan, Shizuoka, 8.15am
Thursday October 3rd, Ireland v Europe One, Kobe, 11.15am
Saturday October 12th, Ireland v play-off winner, Fukuoka, 11.45am

RWC 2019: Full fixtures

September:

20th: Pool A — Japan v Europe 1, Tokyo Stadium, 1145.
21st: Pool D — Australia v Fiji, Sapporo Dome, 0545.
21st: Pool C — France v Argentina, Tokyo Stadium, 0815.
21st: Pool B — New Zealand v South Africa, Yokohama International Stadium, 1045.
22nd: Pool B — Italy v Africa 1, Hanazono Stadium, Osaka, 0615.
22nd: Pool A — Ireland v Scotland, Yokohama International Stadium, 0845.
22nd: Pool C — England v Tonga, Sapporo Dome, 1115.
23rd: Pool D — Wales v Georgia, City of Toyota Stadium, 1115.
24th: Pool A — Europe 1 v Play-off winner, Kumagaya Rugby Grounds, 1115.
25th: Pool D — Fiji v Americas 2, Kamaishi Memorial Stadium, 0615.
26th: Pool B — Italy v Repechage winner, Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka, 0845.
26th: Pool C — England v USA, Kobe Misaki Stadium, 1145.
28th: Pool C — Argentina v Tonga, Hanazono Stadium, Osaka, 0545.
28th: Pool A — Japan v Ireland, Shizuoka Stadium, 0815.
28th: Pool B — South Africa v Africa 1, City of Toyota Stadium, 1045.
29th: Pool D — Georgia v Americas 2, Kumagaya Rugby Grounds, 0615.
29th: Pool D — Australia v Wales, Tokyo Stadium, 0845.
30th: Pool A — Scotland v Play-off winner, Kobe Misaki Stadium, 1115.

October:
2nd: Pool C — France v USA, Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka, 0845.
2nd: Pool B — New Zealand v Repechage winner, Oita Stadium, 1115.
3rd: Pool D — Georgia v Fiji, Hanazono Stadium, Osaka, 0615.
3rd: Pool A — Ireland v Europe 1, Kobe Misaki Stadium, 1115.
4th: Pool B — South Africa v Italy, Shizuoka Stadium, 1045.
5th: Pool D — Australia v Americas 2, Oita Stadium, 0615.
5th: Pool C — England v Argentina, Tokyo Stadium, 0900.
5th: Pool A — Japan v Play-off winner, City of Toyota Stadium, 1130.
6th: Pool B — New Zealand v Africa 1, Tokyo Stadium, 0545.
6th: Pool C — France v Tonga, Kumamoto Stadium, 0845.
6th Pool B — South Africa v Repechage winner, Kobe Misaki Stadium, 1115.
9th: Pool C — Argentina v USA, Kumagaya Rugby Grounds, 0545.
9th: Pool A — Scotland v Europe 1, Shizuoka Stadium, 0815.
9th: Pool D — Wales v Fiji, Oita Stadium, 1045.
11th: Pool D — Australia v Georgia, Shizuoka Stadium, 1115.
12th: Pool B — New Zealand v Italy, City of Toyota Stadium, 0545.
12th: Pool C — England v France, Yokohama International Stadium, 0915.
12th: Pool A — Ireland v Play-off winner, Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka, 1145.
13th: Pool B — Africa 1 v Repechage winner, Kamaishi Memorial Stadium, 0415.
13th: Pool C — USA v Tonga, Hanazono Stadium, Osaka, 0645.
13th: Pool D — Wales v Americas 2, Kumamoto Stadium, 0915.
13th: Pool A — Japan v Scotland, Yokohama International Stadium, 1145.
19th: Quarter-final (winner Pool C v runner-up Pool D), Oita Stadium, 0815.
19th: Quarter-final (winner Pool B v runner-up Pool A), Tokyo Stadium, 1115.
20th: Quarter-final (winner Pool D v runner-up Pool C), Oita Stadium, 0815.
20th: Quarter-final (winner Pool A v runner-up Pool B), Tokyo Stadium, 1115.
26th: Semi-final (winner quarter-final 1 v winner quarter-final 2), Yokohama International Stadium, 0900.
27th: Semi-final (winner quarter-final 3 v winner quarter-final 4), Yokohama International Stadium, 0900.

November:
1st: Bronze final, Tokyo Stadium, 0900.
2nd: Final, Yokohama International Stadium, 0900.