Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Tonga’s victory over Hong Kong yesterday has completed the lineup for the last-gasp Repechage qualifying tournament for Rugby World Cup 2023. Four teams will compete in a round-robin format between November 6 and 18 in Dubai, with the winner securing the 20th and final spot in France.
The USA will represent the Americas after their defeats to Uruguay and Chile. Despite their struggles the Eagles are currently the highest-ranked team of the four at 19th in the world. This will be the second time they have entered the Repechage, having gained their spot at RWC 2003 in an old format that saw two Repechage qualifiers. They have appeared in every World Cup except 1995.
Portugal are the European entry and are marginally behind the USA at 20th in the world. Os Lobos have only played in one World Cup to date in 2007. They were due to miss out in 2023 but the door was opened when Spain was again disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.
Hong Kong are ranked 22nd in the world and have never appeared in a World Cup. They are the second-best side in Asia and competed against Canada in the Repechage tournament for the 2019 World Cup. The Dragons initially pulled out of the qualifiers due to Covid complications but then re-entered the draw and defeated South Korea to book their spot in the play-off against Tonga.
The lowest-ranked of the four are Kenya at 33rd in the world. They were defeated by Namibia in the Africa Cup. Known as the Simbas, the Kenyans were also part of the Repechage tournament for the last World Cup along with Hong Kong, Canada, and Germany. They have never qualified for a World Cup.
