World Rugby unveiled this Monday the qualification process for the 2023 World Cup scheduled in France (September 8-October 21). Out of twenty teams, twelve have already qualified after finishing in the first three places in their pool in the 2019 World Cup won by the Springboks and completed in the quarter-finals for the Blues (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Country Wales, Japan, France, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Argentina, Fiji). The remaining eight places will be determined by regional and transregional qualification phases.
“This phase will end with a final tournament in November 2022 where four teams will play against each other in order to define the name of the last qualified, specifies the International Federation. The dates of the tournaments planned for 2021 will be announced in due time and will be subject to appropriate measures due to the situation created by the Covid-19. "
A chance for emerging nations
The Americas will offer two direct places, while Oceania will offer a direct qualification between Tonga and Samoa then another possible after a playoff with Asia for the loser. The Rugby Europe Championship (two places), the Rugby Africa Cup (one place) and the final qualification tournament (one place) will determine the last qualified teams.
The final tournament, which will take place in November 2022, will decide between the 3rd best American team, the 3rd best European team not yet qualified, the finalist of the Rugby Africa Cup, and the loser of the Oceania-Asia playoff. "This qualification process offers the possibility to all emerging rugby nations to participate in the flagship competition of our sport," said Claude Atcher, the director general of the 2023 World Cup.