Who will claim the last four places in RWC 2019?

AND then there was four. Uruguay’s impressive 70-60 aggregate win over Canada in their twolegged qualifier for the Americas 2 spot means there are now just four qualifying places available for RWC2019 in Japan.

So who are the remaining runners and riders? In Europe, it is effectively a straight forward shoot-out between Romania, Spain and Russia for the automatic Europe 1 spot with the qualifier being calculated from the results of their respective REC 1 results last season and over the coming six weeks. Romania are favourites but can afford no slip-ups.

The runners up from the Europe Pool – almost certainly Spain or Russia – will then tackle Samoa in what RWC are calling the play-off. The winner of that two-legged process will advance directly into Pool A in Japan. The losers will live to fight another day in the quadrangular repechage tournament to be held in November at a neutral location, yet to be decided but possibly in the south of France. Canada are already confirmed as competitors in the repechage.

The African championship this summer serves as the qualifier for Africa 1 with Namibia, as ever, strong favourites. Kenya and Zimbabwe – especially if the latter can persuade a number of Exiles playing abroad to return – will probably contest the runners-up spot and whoever does finish in second place will also progress to the repechage.

The final place in the repechage will come from the winner of what is being termed the Asia/Oceania play-off which will be either Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea or Tahiti.

If was a betting man I would suggest Romania will qualify as Europe 1, Samoa will beat Spain to qualify as the play-off winner, Namibia will qualify as Africa 1 and Canada will emerge from the repechage.