The 2017 Rugby League World Cup Europe qualification was a rugby league tournament held in October and November 2016 to decide the three European qualifiers for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
It consisted of a round-robin tournament which saw Wales and Ireland qualify by winning their respective tables. Italy claimed the final qualifying spot in the World Cup after winning a second place play-off against Russia on 4 November 2016.
On 3 October 2014, the 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying competition was announced.[1] Three European teams were granted automatic qualification, as they had reached the quarter-finals of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup; England, France and Scotland.
Ten teams were able to qualify for the qualification tournament, with the first being eliminated when Spain defeated Latvia on 9 May 2015.[2]
Wales and Ireland were granted entry to the qualification tournament. Both teams already had a chance to qualify for the World Cup during the 2014 European Cup, but failed to do so.[3] One of the other tournament places was allocated to the winner of the European Championship C tournament, and the other three were allocated to the top three teams from the European Championship B.
Italy, Russia and Serbia finished as the top three teams in the European Championship B, with Ukraine being eliminated.[4]
Spain finished as the top team in the European Championship C, with Greece and Malta eliminated.
Qualified teams for final phase:
The final Ireland 22-man squad as of 9 October 2016 is as follows:[5]
The final Italy 22-man squad as of 8 October 2016 is as follows:[6]
The final Russia 22-man squad as of 6 September 2016 is as follows:[7]
The final 22-man squad as of 5 October 2016 is as follows:[8]
The final 22-man squad as of 4 October 2016 is as follows:[9]
The final Wales 22-man squad as of 7 October 2016 is as follows:[10]
On October 14, Dai Evans was brought into the squad to replace Calvin Wellington who withdrew due to a hamstring injury.[11]
On October 21, 19-year old Ben Morris was called up to the squad to play in a mid-qualifying campaign test match against Jamaica.[12]
On October 29, Danny Ansell was called up to the squad with a possibility of playing in the last qualifying game against Italy.[13]
*Sam Hopkins was called into the team for the final qualifier against Italy after Jacob Emmitt withdrew due to a hamstring injury.[14]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wales | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 14 | +56 | 4 | Qualification for 2017 Rugby League World Cup |
2 | Italy | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 76 | 34 | +42 | 2 | Advance to fourth round |
3 | Serbia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 112 | −98 | 0 |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ireland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 116 | 22 | +94 | 4 | Qualification for 2017 Rugby League World Cup |
2 | Russia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 76 | −20 | 2 | Advance to fourth round |
3 | Spain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 86 | −74 | 0 |
15 October 2016[15]
|
Russia | 40 – 6 | Spain |
---|---|---|
Try: Burlutskii 12' Zagoskin 14' Kosharin 33' Lysokon 44' Bratko 54' Chuprin 76' Buryak 79' Goal:
Lysokon 4/5 |
Report |
Try: Rango 69' Goal: Garcia 1/1 |
|
|
15 October 2016[16]
|
Wales | 50 – 0 | Serbia |
---|---|---|
Try: Williams (2) 12', 19 Grace (2) 28', 56 Olds (2) 33', 69' Davies 46' Gay 52' Dudson 76 Goal: White 4/6 Davies 3/3 |
Report |
Try: |
|
|
22 October 2016[17]
|
Serbia | 14 – 62 | Italy |
---|---|---|
Try: Marjanović (2) 68', 79' Burke 73' Goal: Dedić 1/2 |
Report |
Try: Lepori (4) 4', 10', 12', 46' Cerruto (4) 17', 35', 49', 71' Wakeman 22' Santi 45' Campese 58' Calegari 62' Goal: Bergamasco 7/11 Campese 0/1 |
|
|
22 October 2016
|
Spain | 6 – 46 | Ireland |
---|---|---|
Try: Charters-Blanco 62' Goal: Garcia 1/1 |
Report |
Try: Roberts 2' Dunne (2) 5', 52' Littler (2) 29', 74' Hasson 39' Peacock 56' King 66' Grix 77' Goal: Finn 5/9 |
Polideportivo Quatre Carreres, Valencia
Attendance: 323 Referee: Patrice Benausse Player of the Match: Liam Finn |
|
|
29 October 2016[18]
|
Italy | 14 – 20 | Wales |
---|---|---|
Try: Wilkie 26' Castellaro 29' Goal: Campese 3/3 |
Report |
Try: Morris (2) 16', 59' Walker 37' Gay 52' Goal: Davies 2/4 |
|
|
30 October 2016[17]
|
Ireland | 70 – 16 | Russia |
---|---|---|
Try: Hope 7' Dunne 10' McMahon (2) 13', 36' Grix (2) 23', 62' T. King 32' McDonnell 38' Roberts (2) 46', 72' G. King 59' Kelly 64' Littler 69' Goal:Finn 8/11 Littler 1/2 |
Report |
Try: Eramin 4' Kalinin 26' Buryak 79' Goal: Lysokon 2/3 |
|
|
The final qualifying place was determined by a single knockout match held between the two group runners-up on 4 November 2016.