IRB change World Cup qualification process

THE qualifying structure for future Rugby World Cups is to be changed to better reflect the modern game and increase the profile of one of the world’s largest sporting events, with the number of automatic qualifiers increasing to 12.

“In recognition of the amount of rugby now being played and the implications on the establishment of an integrated season the RWC Board has decided that there should be 12 automatic qualifying places for future tournaments.

“This will serve to reduce the number of international matches that would have to be played in the years before a tournament by those teams who did not make the quarter-finals of the previous RWC, reducing fixture congestion,” said IRB Chairman, Dr Syd Millar.

“With the top three teams in each pool qualifying directly to the next RWC this new process raises the prospect of several Tier 2 Unions obtaining automatic qualification. This does not happen at present and it will add excitement and relevance to more pool matches at each tournament, including RWC 2007.”

The qualification process will see greater recognition given to the major regional championships in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania. In addition, there will be a World Trophy qualifying tournament the year before RWC, to provide matches at an appropriate level for Tier 2 and 3 Unions with the incentive of qualification to the Rugby World Cup.

The number of qualifiers from the regional championships and the World Trophy qualifying tournament will depend upon the number of teams that will participate in each RWC finals tournament. The RWC Board is reviewing this number, presently 20 teams, along with the use of the IRB World Rankings to determine the seedings and draw for the tournament.