 | This article needs to be updated. (March 2021) |
Rugby World Cup qualification is a process that determines which nations will compete at the Rugby World Cup, a men's rugby union competition.
Unlike previous tournaments (where eight teams, the quarter-finalists from the preceding World Cup, qualified automatically and twelve places were available through qualification) the 2011 World Cup would be the first to be contested by twelve automatic qualifiers / seeds (the teams who finished in the top three of the groups at the 2007 World Cup) and eight qualifiers; this format has been retained for future tournaments.[1][2]
The qualification system for the remaining eight places will be region-based with Europe and the Americas allocated two qualifying places, Africa, Asia and Oceania one place each, with the last place determined by a play-off.[3]
- ^ "BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Rankings to determine RWC pools". BBC News. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ^ "Official RWC 2011 Site – Twenty teams to compete at Rugby World 2011". Rugbyworldcup.com. 30 November 2007. Archived from the original on 26 July 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ^ "Official RWC 2011 Site – Caribbean kick off for RWC 2011 qualifying". Rugbyworldcup.com. 3 April 2008. Archived from the original on 5 September 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.