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Spain will play at Rugby World Cup 2023. In a sensational match in Madrid, Los Leones outlasted Portugal in a match of the year candidate. The 33-28 final score means that Spain have qualified for France 2023 as Europe 2.
Portugal can still qualify, though their chances are very slim. Portugal need the Netherlands to perform against Romania. Projections are for Romania to complete a bonus point win. This outcome would see Portugal eliminated from RWC 2023 qualifying and Romania entering repechage as Europe 3.
The win has a direct link to the Americas; Spain are captained by Fernando López. The 35-year-old prop is a product of Rugby Club San Marcos in Buenos Aires. Hooker Santiago Ovejero, flanker Facundo Domínguez, and fly half Bautista Guemes also all featured in today’s win over Portugal.
As Europe 2, Spain will compete in Pool B at RWC 2023. The group also contains South Africa, Ireland, and Scotland. The final place in the group will go to the Asia/Pacific qualifier. That team is widely expected to be Tonga.
Spain will have the luxury of playing two pool matches in south-western France. Los Leones will play first up against Ireland in Bordeaux on Saturday, September 09, 2023. Spain will remain in Bordeaux for game two which will be against South Africa on Sunday, September 17.
The Spanish will subsequently play games three and four in Northern France. Spain will take-on Scotland in Lille on Saturday, September 30 and also play in Lille against the Asia/Pacific qualifier on Sunday, October 08.
Spain is the 16th team confirmed for RWC 2023. The four remaining slots will all be determined in matches later on in 2022. The USA vs Chile will decide who joins Argentina in Pool D. The loser, on aggregate, of that series will face Portugal, Africa 2 and the Asia/Pacific runner-up to determine the final competitor at RWC 2023.
