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Twenty teams from around the world will compete at Rugby World Cup 2023. The tournament will take place in France from September 08 to October 28. France 2023 is to be the tenth edition of the Rugby World Cup. It is France’s first time hosting along and the fourth time in which France acts as a host in some capacity.
The matter of expanding Rugby World Cups from 20 to 24 competitors remains alive. Which countries not involved in Rugby World Cup 2023 would fill the four spots? Americas Rugby News contends that they would come from the six listed below, but not in the order of World Rankings. The USA, Spain and Canada are the notable missing teams from RWC 2023.
USA
World Ranking: 18
The USA narrowly missed out on qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2023. Elimination came as a result of a draw against Portugal in Dubai. The qualifying campaign was troubled throughout. The USA opened with a loss against Canada. The Eagles recovered to win the return match.
The Eagles took on Uruguay home-and-away next. Los Teros recovered from losing in Denver to win at home and qualify for the World Cup. Other results meant the Eagles next faced Chile home-and-away. An away win over Chile was followed by a home defeat against Los Cóndores. Repechage saw the Eagles out and Portugal through to the World Cup.
The Eagles played against a healthy number of Rugby World Cup 2023 countries. This included touring Tier 1 teams England and Ireland and hosting New Zealand. Of note is that Uruguay’s only match against a Tier 1 country since beating Fiji at Rugby World Cup 2019 was away against Italy in 2021.
The Eagles are expected to be back at Rugby World Cup 2027. There are two reasons for this. First, the Eagles should bounce back and perform better. Second, World Rugby has a history of changing Americas qualifiers every cycle. This is expected again with the USA to possibly face Canada only.
| Date | Result | Venue |
| July 04, 2021 | England 43-29 USA | London (UK) |
| July 10, 2021 | Ireland 71-10 USA | Dublin, (IE) |
| October 02, 2021 | USA 19-16 Uruguay | Denver, Colorado (US) |
| October 09, 2021 | Uruguay 34-15 USA | Montevideo (UY) |
| October 23, 2021 | USA 14-104 New Zealand | Washington DC (US) |
| July 09, 2022 | Chile 21-22 USA | Santiago (CL) |
| July 16, 2022 | USA 29-31 Chile | Denver, Colorado (US) |
| November, 19, 2022 | Portugal 16-16 USA | Dubai (AE) |
Spain
World Ranking: 20
Spain qualified on the field for Rugby World Cup 2023. Los Leones were then disqualified off the field by World Rugby. With Wallaby Jack Dempsey playing for Scotland the outcome for Spain is confusing at best and entirely unjustified at worst.
Spain has taken measures to ensure that the team will never endure disqualification again. Los Leones are a team that will be contenders for Rugby World Cup 2027. If the team is a 24-team tournament then Spain is a virtual certainty.
Spain defeated three Rugby World Cup 2023 countries in 2021-2022. Los Leones recorded wins over Romania and Portugal in Rugby World Cup qualifiers and defeated Namibia in an end-of-year test match in 2022. Spain also enjoyed an impressive road victory over Canada in 2022.
Namibia has no genuine opposition in Africa’s qualifying series for the Rugby World Cup. Europe is very different and Spain is not the only country not competing at Rugby World Cup 2023 that has the level to do so.
| Date | Result | Venue |
| March 14, 2021 | Spain 19-25 Georgia | Madrid (ES) |
| March 20, 2021 | Romania 20-16 Spain | Bucharest (RO) |
| March 27, 2021 | Portugal 43-28 Spain | Lisbon (PT) |
| November 06, 2021 | Spain 13-43 Fiji | Madrid (ES) |
| February 27, 2022 | Spain 38-21 Romania | Madrid (ES) |
| March 13, 2022 | Spain 33-28 Portugal | Madrid (ES) |
| November 05, 2022 | Spain 06-40 Tonga | Málaga (ES) |
| November 12, 2022 | Spain 34-15 Namibia | Madrid (ES) |
Canada
World Ranking: 23
Spain’s win over Canada was one of a long run of bad results for the North Americans during the 2019-2023 cycle. Canada were also pushed by the Netherlands in Amsterdam in 2022. It started differently with a home win over the USA in the home Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifier.
Few other positives can be identified. In all, Canada was beaten by five countries that will play at Rugby World Cup 2023. Wales and England recorded big home wins over Canada in mid 2021. Canada was then eliminated by Chile after splitting a series with matches in the north and south Pacific.
Canada’s win over Chile was at the death. A last second penalty put them one point ahead. Los Cóndores won at home to eliminate Canada. Losses followed against Portugal and Namibia, both were firsts.
A recovery is expected by Canada. Improvements ought to see Canada again being a contender to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. If the format for Australia 2027 is altered to a 24-team tournament then Canada’s chances would be even stronger.
| Date | Result | Venue |
| July 03, 2021 | Wales 68-12 Canada | Cardiff (UK) |
| July 10, 2021 | England 70-14 Canada | London (UK) |
| October 02, 2021 | Canada 22-21 Chile | Langford, BC (CA) |
| October 09, 2021 | Chile 33-24 Canada | Valparaíso (CL) |
| November 06, 2011 | Portugal 20-17 Canada | Lisbon (PT) |
| November 21, 2022 | Namibia 43-37 Canada | Amsterdam (NL) |
Hong Kong
World Ranking: 24
Japan qualified directly for Rugby World Cup 2023. Hong Kong was the Asian representative in the inter-regional play-off against Oceanian country, Tonga. The Ikali Tahi qualified by defeating Hong Kong in Australia in mid 2022.
Hong Kong went on to the repechage finals against Kenya, Portugal and the USA. Hong Kong were 22-18 winners over Kenya but fell to heavy losses against the USA and Portugal. Canada was more competitive against the USA and Spain more so against Georgia than was Hong Kong against the USA and Portugal.
Japan is a success story at recent Rugby World Cups. The results speak for themselves; yet, Asia does not have other RWC competitors in 2023 nor previously. The likelihood of this changing for 2027 is minimal.
There is a lack of short-term and long-term potential for progression for Asia. There are no Asia 2 candidates ready for RWC expansion to 24 teams.
| DATE | Result | Venue |
| July 23, 2022 | Tonga 44-22 Hong Kong | Sunshine Coast (AU) |
| November 12, 2022 | Portugal 42-14 Hong Kong | Dubai (AE) |
Russia
World Ranking: 25
Russia has competed at two past Rugby World Cups. The Russian bears qualified for Rugby World Cup 2011 on merit. Russia secured their spot at Rugby World Cup 2019 due to Romania’s disqualification. Russia were disqualified from the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifiers due to the war with Ukraine.
Russia’s RWC 2023 results were behind those which saw there Bears qualify for Rugby World Cups 2011 and 2019. Russia defeated Romania in 2021 but was otherwise winless in matches against countries that will play at Rugby World Cup 2023.
Russia dropped home matches against Georgia in Kalliningrad and Portugal in Nizhny Novgorod. The bears walls fell on the road against Romania before being removed from the qualifiers by World Rugby. In between, Russia fell to a home series defeat against Chile in November 2021.
In the event that the war concludes in time for Russia to be back competing in Rugby World Cup Qualifiers then the Bears are a team with possibilities for Australia 2027. If the tournament is expanded from 20 to 24 teams then Russia is team that could realistically qualify.
| Date | Result | Venue |
| March 06, 2021 | Russia 18-13 Romania | Sochi (RU) |
| March 20, 2021 | Russia 6-23 Georgia | Kalliningrad (RU) |
| July 17, 2021 | Russia 26-49 Portugal | Nizhny Novgorod (RU) |
| November 20, 2021 | Russia 29-30 Chile | Sochi (RU) |
| November 26, 2021 | Russia 27-42 Chile | Sochi (RU) |
| February 05, 2022 | Romania 34-25 Russia | Bucharest (RO) |
Netherlands
World Ranking: 26
The Netherlands have never qualified for a Rugby World Cup. The team did not register any wins in the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifiers, though the Netherlands did compete well against Canada in 2022.
Canada’s performances during the RWC 2019-2023 cycle were underwhelming; the North Americans fell to all-time low ranking. Notwithstanding, Canada did far better against the USA in Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifiers than did either Hong Kong or Kenya against the Eagles.
An expanded Rugby World Cup needs to see Europe and the Americas allocated more spots. It is difficult to provide justification based on merit for Asia, Oceania, and Africa to obtain spots; rather, the fairest route for them is repechage.
| Date | Result | Venue |
| June 26, 2021 | Georgia 48-15 Netherlands | Telavi (GE) |
| July 10, 2021 | Netherlands 28-61 Portugal | Amsterdam (NE) |
| November 13, 2021 | Romania 56-15 Netherlands | Bucharest (RO) |
| February 12, 2022 | Netherlands 10-72 Georgia | Amsterdam (NE) |
| February 26, 2022 | Portugal 59-03 Netherlands | Caldas de Rainha (PT) |
| March 19, 2022 | Netherlands 12-38 Romania | Amsterdam (NE) |
