Dubai to host final 2023 Rugby WC qualification tournament
DUBAI:THE qualification tournament for the final place at next year’s men’s Rugby World Cup in France will be held at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai from Nov. 6-18, World Rugby said on Monday.
Hong Kong, Kenya, the United States and Portugal will clash in a round-robin format, and the winners will go into Pool C at the World Cup, alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia.
The World Cup will be played in France for the second time from Sept.8 next year. The country also hosted the tournament in 2007.
Scrumhalf Sonatane Takulua scored a hattrick of tries as Tonga booked their place in the 2023 Rugby World Cup with a comfortable 44-22 win over Hong Kong on Saturday.
The Tongans scored six tries to three against a game, but outclassed Hong Kong oufit on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Tonga will now line up in Pool B of next year’s tournament in France, alongside South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and Romania.
Hong Kong still have one chance let to qualify, joining the USA, Portugal and Kenya in a repechage tournament to be held in November.
The winner of repechage tournament completes Pool C, with Australia, Fiji, Georgia and Wales.
Tonga did not win a match at the recent Pacific Nations Cup, but they were quick to make an impact in this qualifier.
The tournament fixtures and match officials will be announced in due course, World Rugby said.
“There is only one remaining ticket for Rugby World Cup 2023, and it will all come down to a fantastic Final Qualification Tournament hosted in Dubai this November,” World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said.
“The four participating teams have proven their worth during a challenging qualifying process that started in March 2021 and they will give their absolute best to join the France 2023 adventure. Rugby fans worldwide can expect an outstanding and hard-fought tournament.
“We are also delighted to partner with Dubai for this important milestone. Dubai and its Sevens Stadium are an iconic rugby stronghold and represent an ideal and neutral location for teams coming from the four corners of the globe, with world-class infrastructures for teams to perform.”
Portugal booked their place in Dubai ater placing third in the Rugby Europe Championship 2021 and 2022 combined standings. They will be joined at the final qualification tournament by Kenya, who earlier this month were runners-up to Namibia in the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 in France.
The US, meanwhile, will aim to maintain their perfect World Cup qualification record since 1995 when they compete in the tournament. They booked their place ater narrowly losing to 52-51 on aggregate to Chile in the Americas 2 play-off.
They still have one chance let to qualify, joining the US, Portugal and Kenya in a repechage tournament to be held in November.
South Africa are the defending champions having won their third Webb Ellis Cup by beating England in the 2019 final at the International Stadium Yokohama, Japan – the first time the World Cup had been hosted in Asia.