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The USA’s pathway to Rugby World Cup 2023 has been confirmed. The Men’s Eagles will play in a four team repechage tournament in Dubai, UAE in November. The champion will qualify for RWC 2023 as the 20th, and final, participant. The USA will be competing against Hong Kong, Kenya and Portugal in the last chance tournament.
The tournament will take place at Sevens Stadium in Dubai from November 06 to 18. It will be inside the World Rugby player release window. The placement means that all teams will have complete access to their players regardless of where they play. The tournament will be a part of the November 2022 Internationals.
World Rugby has organized the fixture order according to World Rankings. With a ranking of 19th in the world, the USA is the top seed. Portugal is second with a ranking of 19th followed by Hong Kong in 22nd and Kenya in 33rd. Ths USA will thus play Kenya first, Hong Kong second and Portugal third in the repechage tournament.
The winner of the tournament will qualify for Pool C of Rugby World Cup 2023. The pool consists of Australia, Fiji, Georgia and Wales. If the USA does secure the final spot at the World Cup then the Men’s Eagles will open their campaign against Wales in Nice on Saturday, September 16. Subsequent matches will be played in Toulouse and St. Etienne. The latter venue will be a return fixture; the USA played against Samoa in St. Etienne at RWC 2007.
WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS – REPECHAGE FIXTURES
Sunday, November 06 – Kenya vs USA (04:00 Pacific / 07:00 Eastern / 16:00 local)
Sunday, November 06 – Hong Kong vs Portugal (06:30 Pacific / 09:30 Eastern / 18:30 local)
Saturday, November 12 – Kenya vs Portugal (04:00 Pacific / 07:00 Eastern / 16:00 local)
Saturday, November 12 – Hong Kong vs USA (06:30 Pacific / 09:30 Eastern / 18:30 local)
Friday, November 18 – Hong Kong vs Kenya (05:00 Pacific / 08:00 Eastern / 17:00 local)
Friday, November 18 – Portugal vs USA (07:30 Pacific / 10:30 Eastern / 19:30 local)
