Thunderbolt for Spanish rugby.
While the country had managed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup, its first since 1999, Spain was disqualified by World Rugby, the body that manages rugby internationally.
The reason is simple: Gavin Van den Berg, a player of South African origin selected by Spain, was deemed ineligible to play with the “Leones”.
The Spanish FA announced the decision in a statement.
#FERugby |
Comunicado oficial: World Rugby decides that Van den Berg is not eligible for jugar con España.
https://t.co/QzYQ3yfhc4
— España Rugby (@ferugby) April 28, 2022
"Following the hearing held this Thursday, April 28 with the independent judicial committee appointed by World Rugby to study the complaint of the Romanian Rugby Federation (FRR) on the eligibility of Gavin Van den Berg, the highest body in world rugby has decided to sanction Spain with 25,000 pounds and to count 5 points for each of the two matches in which this player has been aligned, ”said the press release.
"Pending the formalization of the sentence of World Rugby, this announcement entails the disqualification of the World Cup 2023".
The World Rugby investigation followed a complaint from the Romanian Federation.
Thanks to this disqualification, the Romanians should inherit the place at the World Cup from the Spaniards.
The Spaniards said they had launched, on their side, a passport verification procedure for Gavin Van den Berg.
The federation specified that a “press conference” would be organized in the coming days “to offer all the explanations which are required”.
Twice in four years
With this disqualification, Spain is again experiencing terrible disappointment, as in 2019. Then in the race for qualification for the World Cup in Japan, the country had been sanctioned for having played players of foreign origin not eligible according to the rules. of World Rugby.
For the same reasons, Romania also had to give up its ticket for the World Cup, which then went to Russia.
The Spaniards had qualified for the 2023 World Cup thanks to their fine second place obtained at the European Rugby Championship in 2021-2022, which brought together Georgia (1st), Romania, Portugal, the Netherlands and Russia. .
The Portuguese should be able to go through the dams to obtain their qualification.
The Rugby World Cup will be played from September 8 to October 28, 2023 in France.
