Spain thrown out of next year’s Rugby World Cup
MADRID: Spain have been disqualified from next year’s Rugby World Cup in France ater fielding an ineligible player in two matches during the 2021-22 Rugby Europe Championship, the Spanish federation (FER) and World Rugby announced on Thursday.
Spain’s disqualification means Romania qualify automatically and Portugal go into a playoff for a place at the tournament. Spain had secured a World Cup berth for the first time since 1999 with a 33-28 win over Portugal in March to finish second in the Rugby Europe Championship.
It was the second time they had qualified for the World Cup but World Rugby, the sport’s governing body, launched an investigation ater a complaint filed by Romania, who missed out on automatic qualification ater finishing just behind Spain.
According to a source close to the FER, the investigation found that the date of entry into Spain on the passport of Gavin van den Berg, who is of South African origin, had been falsified to comply with eligibility requirements.
Later on Thursday, the FER said ater meeting the General Director of Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD), Albert Soler, that it would file a complaint on Friday to the Prosecutors Office seeking a probe into an “alleged passport forgery”, adding that Alcobendas Rugby are under investigation.
Alcobendas told Reuters that “all those responsible have let the club” including “members of staff and one player”.
However, the club added that the player who had departed was not Van den Berg, who “let World Rugby’s hearing unpunished”.
Alcobendas also said they expected to make a statement ater a news conference scheduled by the FER and CSD for Friday.
The FER has also postponed the Spanish Cup final between El Salvador and Alcobendas, which was scheduled to be played on Sunday at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville.
DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE: “An extraordinary disciplinary procedure was initiated against the Alcobendas Rugby Club from the moment it was known that there was a possible modification of an official document that granted Gavin van den Berg eligibility status, as well as those allegedly responsible,” FER said in a statement.