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A Georgian source has proclaimed that Romania, Spain and Belgium will all be disqualified from RWC qualifiers. This would result in Russia replacing Romania as Europe 1, and thereby playing in the RWC 2019 opener against Japan.
Due to what is at stake decisions have been delayed on numerous occasions with World Rugby stepping in to resolve what was initially referred to by them as a Rugby Europe matter.
For a chronological detailing of the events that have led to the looming expulsion of three countries from RWC qualifiers click here.
The Georgian publication claims that the resolution is to be as follows:
- Belgium will be disqualified for breaching player eligibility laws in RWC qualifiers.
- Romania will be disqualified for breaching player eligibility laws in RWC qualifiers.
- Spain will be disqualified for breaching player eligibility laws in RWC qualifiers.
- Russia has been cleared and will be confirmed as Europe 1.
- Germany has been cleared and will become the second placed side behind Russia.
- Portugal will play against Germany with the winner officially becoming Europe 2.
- Samoa will play the winner of Europe 2 in a home-and-away RWC Play-Off.
To view the Georgian publication in full click here (in Georgian).
The delay of getting to Germany vs Portugal means Samoa vs Europe 2 is also to be delayed. This has not been popular with Samoan rugby players past or present who argue that they are being victimized despite no wrong-doing.
Make no mistake Romania, Spain and Belgium all have done wrong. Romania’s wrong-doing is clear-cut with Sione Faka’osilea never having been eligible for Romania due to him having played for Tonga on the HSBC World Sevens Circuit. Belgium’s Victor Paquet was never eligible for them as a Great Grandparent does not meet eligibility requirements for ancestry.
Grave errors from Rugby Europe saw both Faka’osilea and Paquet competing. Spain fielded Mathieu Bélie and Bastien Fuster, both of whom played for France u20’s when France did not have a senior side such as France ‘A’, or the French Barbarians as the designated ‘Next Senior’ side.
Many players from leading countries have changed their allegiance though they have done so via a technicality. Wales’ Ross Moriarty and Gareth Anscombe played for England and New Zealand u20’s respectively, Scotland’s Cornell du Preez played for South Africa’s u20’s while Ireland’s CJ Stander even captained South Africa’s u20’s.
There is not even room for debate. The ‘Next Senior’ designation needs to be universally applied. Not with unions nominating their second team but by having one rule for all.
While we ponder over the reports out of Georgia there is also news filtering out from France. The May 10 hearing in Dublin, Ireland is reportedly to see Rugby Europe officials fired due to the nomination of Vlad Iordachescu as the referee for Belgium vs Spain.
Iordachescu, himself, has been publicly ashamed. Him being Romanian was always a conflict of interest but Rugby Europe, headed by another Romanian, deserve to be shaken up and torn down. This entire fiasco is a result of their incompetence.
The expulsion of Tahiti from RWC qualifiers earlier this year was for breaching player eligibility laws. With this happening just two weeks before the Rugby Europe scandal there is a precedent which World Rugby must now follow upon.
The upcoming disqualification of Romania, Spain and Belgium is not the first scandal to rock our sport but lessons must be addressed and be learned from. Disqualifying the three for fielding who they have cannot mask the fact that powerful unions do the identical thing.
The difference between Romania and Spain on the one hand and England and Wales on the other is the latter have proven records of financial power and expertise to investigate and target eligibility talent. It is a business with Tier 1 unions employing full-time staff to scout for eligibility players. Europe 1 competitors are now set to pay the ultimate price.
