This event was the first in the series to only have one team from each pool qualify to the cup knockout phase.

Host team New Zealand won the tournament, defeating France by 21–5 in the final.

The top team from each pool advanced to the semifinals to playoff for berths in the cup final and third place match.

This is the first tournament of the 2019–20 season that the format was changed to a four team cup knockout phase.

[2] The pools and schedule were announced by World Rugby on 20 December 2019.