Spain lose Cup place

Spain will not play at the Rugby World Cup in France because they used an ineligible player in qualifying, World Rugby and the Spanish rugby federation said yesterday. World Rugby has decided to sanction Spainwith a fine and the loss of five points for each match they played with South Africa-born front-rower Gavin van der Berg on the team. Spain had qualified for their second World Cup – and first since 1999 – in March, but will nowdrop out of the qualifying places. Romania will take their place and Portugal will advance to the world repechage tournament in November.