The IRB setting for this tournament was that the matches were to be played between two pools from which the top 4 teams qualified for the semifinals and the team that finished at the bottom of the Division A pool was to be relegated to the Division B.
Pool A played against Pool D
Pool B played against Pool C
Match points were awarded on the basis of 4 points for a Win, 2 points for a draw and 0 points for a Loss. Bonus points were awarded for teams scoring 4 tries or more and to losing teams who lost be 7 points or less.
* Romania was initially demoted to Division B and Fiji promoted to Division A for next World Championship.
# Chile, Russia, Namibia, Chinese Taipei, South Korea and USA were relegated from Division B and had to enter regional competitions to qualify for next World Championship.