SCOTLAND will face Ireland in Yokohama to open their 2019 World Cup campaign.

The fixtures for the showcase in Japan were confirmed on Thursday with just under two years to go until the tournament kicks off.

Gregor Townsend's side will face top seed Ireland on Sunday 22 September, before facing the play-off winner on Monday 30 September.

In round three, the Scots take on Europe 1 on Wednesday 9 October. 

The pool stage fixtures will then come to a close with a high-stakes clash against the hosts back in Yokohama on Sunday 13 October. 

World Rugby designed the match schedule to ensure that tier two teams can optimise rest days ahead of games against tier one nations and World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper was pleased with the outcome.

He said: “The development of the match schedule is an important milestone for what will be a very special Rugby World Cup. Throughout this rigorous process, we have had participating team experience for teams and fans at heart.

“We have worked hard to deliver a match schedule that improves on the Rugby World Cup 2015 model, delivering a more balanced spread of matches across the four weeks of pool matches and greater rest periods for the emerging rugby nations ahead of matches against the top-ranked teams.”

Quarter-final fixtures will be played on 19 and 20 October before two semi-finals on 26 and 26 October.

The bronze medal match will then take place on Friday 1 November before the tournament reaches its climax with the final at the International Stadium in Yokohama on Saturday 2 November.

Scotland’s RWC 2019 schedule

Round One: Sunday 22 September – Ireland v Scotland; International Stadium, Yokohama (kick-off 4.45pm)

Round Two: Monday 30 September – Scotland v Play-Off Winner; Kobe Misaki Stadium (kick-off 7.15pm)

Round Three: Wednesday 9 October – Scotland v Europe 1; Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa (kick-off 4.15pm)

Round Four: Sunday 13 October – Japan v Scotland; International Stadium Yokohama (kick-off 7.45pm)