2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification

2017 Rugby League World Cup qualificationTournament details

Dates| 9 May 2015 – 29 October 2016
Teams| 13 (from 4 confederations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played| 28

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International football competition

The 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying process began on 9 May 2015 with the 2015 European Championship C. In August 2014, it was announced that seven of the eight quarter-finalists at the 2013 tournament would receive automatic qualification.[1] Fourteen teams took part in the qualifying process to fill the remaining seven spots.

## Background

[edit]

Eight teams automatically qualified for the World Cup. Seven of the teams which reached the quarter-finals of the 2013 World Cup were granted automatic qualification, along with co-hosts Papua New Guinea.[2] The eighth quarter-finalist, the United States, were denied automatic qualification due to an internal governance dispute and instead forced to enter the qualification process.[citation needed]

## Qualified teams

[edit]

Region  | Team  | Qualification
method  | Previous
appearances  | Previous best result

|
|
|
|

Americas |  United States | Americas winner  | 1  | Quarter-finals (2013)
Asia-Pacific |  Australia | Hosts  | 14  | Champions (1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1985–88, 1989–92, 1995, 2000, 2013)
Fiji | Automatic  | 4  | Semi-finals (2008, 2013)
New Zealand | Hosts  | 14  | Champions (2008)
Papua New Guinea | Hosts  | 6  | Quarter-finals (2000)
Samoa | Automatic  | 4  | Quarter-finals (2000, 2013)
Tonga | Asia-Pacific play-off | 4  | Group stages (1995, 2000, 2008, 2013)
Europe |  England[a] | Automatic  | 5  | Runners-up (1975, 1995)
France | Automatic  | 14  | Runners-up (1954, 1968)
Ireland[a] | Europe play-off 1  | 3  | Quarter-finals (2000, 2008)
Italy | Europe repechage | 1  | Group stages (2013)
Scotland[a] | Automatic  | 3  | Quarter-finals (2013)
Wales[a] | Europe play-off 2  | 4  | Semi-finals (1995, 2000)
Middle East-Africa |  Lebanon | Middle East-Africa play-off | 1  | Group stages (2000)

1. ^ a b c d Competed as part of  Great Britain in nine previous tournaments, finishing as champions on three occasions (1954, 1960, 1972). The squads largely consisted of English players, but also featured Welsh players in every tournament. Scotland (1954, 1968, 1977, 1989–92) and Ireland (1957) were represented by native-born players in some tournaments.

## Americas

[edit]

Main article: 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification – Americas

One team qualified from this region. A three-team round robin tournament was held in Florida in December 2015 to determine the qualifier.[3]

Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

United States | 2  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 54  | 38  | +16  | 4
Jamaica | 2  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 32  | 38  | −6  | 1
Canada | 2  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 42  | 52  | −10  | 1

Source: [4]

|  |  |

|
|
|

4 December 2015 | United States  | 20–14 |  Jamaica | Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
8 December 2015 | Canada  | 18–18 |  Jamaica | Spec Martin Stadium, DeLand, Florida
12 December 2015 | United States  | 34–24 |  Canada | Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

## Asia-Pacific

[edit]

Two additional qualifying places were initially allocated to this region. Papua New Guinea were granted automatic qualification in 2015 after being confirmed as co-hosts, leaving one additional team to qualify from this region. A single play-off between Tonga and Cook Islands determined the final qualifier.

17 October 2015

Tonga  | 28 – 8  |  Cook Islands

|
|

Try: Tafua 13' c
Fonua 34' c
Kata (2) 63', 68' c
Terepo 74' c
Goal: Kata (4/5) 14', 35', 69', 75'  | Report
| Try: Nicoll-Klokstad 4'
Gelling 23'

Goal: Rapana (0/2)

Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown
Attendance: 4,813
Referee:  Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match: Solomone Kata (Tonga)

## Europe

[edit]

Three additional teams qualified from this region. A two-group, round-robin tournament took place in October 2016 to determine the qualifying nations - this was contested by the winners of the 2015 European Championship C tournament, the top three teams from the 2014–15 European Championship B tournament, and seeded nations Wales and Ireland.[5]

### First round

[edit]

Main article: 2014–15 Rugby League European Championship B

Team  |  Pld  |  W  |  D  |  L  |  PF  |  PA  |  +/−  |  Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Serbia | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 196 | 73 | +123 | 10
Russia | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 137 | 31 | +106 | 8
Italy | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 142 | 54 | +88 | 6
Ukraine | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 80 | 256 | –176 | 0

17 May 2014

Serbia| 40–14|  Ukraine

|
|

Tries Stevanovic, Djurkovic (3), Tulic, Calic, Zogovic, Nedeljkovic
Goals: Vukanovic 4/6| Report| Tries: Miroshnichenko, Pozhidaev, Troyan
Goals: Skorbach 1/3
Zeleznicar Stadium, Nis

* * *

24 May 2014

Russia| 24–18|  Ukraine

|
|

Tries: Bratko, Ovchinnikov, Vlasyuk, Zdobnikov, Kosharin
Goals: Zdobnikov 1/2, Bratko 1/1| Report| Tries: Skorbach (3)
Goals: Skorbach 3/3
Vereya Stadium, Vereya

* * *

21 June 2014

Russia| 20–6|  Serbia

|
|

Tries: Kosharin (2), Nisiforov, Bratko
Goals: Lysokon 2/4| Report| Tries: Vukanovic
Goals: Vukanovic 1/1
Nara Stadium, Narofominsk

* * *

5 July 2014

Italy| 54–12|  Ukraine

|
|

Tries: Dalla Regione (3), Idammou (2), Miranda (2), Ameglio, De Mayer, Pagani
Goals: Fontana 7/10| Report| Tries: I Karpenko, Troyan
Goals: Mazepa 2/2
Stadio Comunale, Gemona del Friuli

* * *

26 July 2014

Italy| 22–18|  Russia

|
|

Tries: De Meyer, Curione (2)
Goals: Bradley 5/6| Report| Tries: Bratko, Izmailov, Botnarash
Goals: Lysokon 3/3
Stadio Comunale, Gemona del Friuli

* * *

10 September 2014

Serbia| 45–6|  Italy

|
|

Tries: Vukanovic (2), Novakovic, Calic, Djurkovic (2), Zogovic, Stevanovic
Goals: Vukanovic 4/4, Vojislav Dedic 2/4
Drop Goals: Novakovic| Report| Tries: Celerino
Goals: Fontana 1/1
Makis Stadium, Belgrade

* * *

16 May 2015

Serbia| 20–15|  Russia

|
|

Tries: Stevanovic (2), Dedic, Zogovic
Goals: Dedic 2/4| Report| Tries: Korolev, Ovchinnikov, Zdobnikov
Goals: Lysokin 1/2, Grigoryan 0/1
Drop Goals: Ovchnnikov
Makis Stadium, Belgrade

* * *

20 June 2015

Italy| 14–21|  Serbia

|
|

Tries: Boscolo, Lepori, Gazzoli
Goals: Fontana 1/3| Report| Tries: Djurković, Janković, Stevanović
Goals: Vojislav Dedić 4/5
Drop Goals: Vojislav Dedić 1/1
Stadio Comunale, Gemona del Friuli

* * *

4 July 2015

Ukraine| 20–34|  Russia

|
|

Tries: Troyan, Veprik (2), Skorbach
Goals: Skorbach 2/4| Report| Tries: Bratko (2), Korolev (2), Zabelin (2), Bulanov
Goals: Lysokon 2/3, Grigoryan 0/1, Bratko 1/3
Makiš Stadium, Belgrade1

* * *

18 July 2015

Ukraine| 12–40|  Italy

|
|

Tries: Troyan, Karpenko
Goals: Skorbach (2/2)| Report| Tries: Bellotti (3), Illinca, Boscolo, Celerino, Decaro, Lepori
Goals: De Mayer 4/5
National University of Ukraine, Irpin

* * *

12 September 2015

Russia| 26–6|  Italy

|
|

Tries: Lysokon, Gaponov, Burlutskiy, Bratko, Botnarash
Goals: Lysokon (2/4), Bratko (1/1)| Report| Tries: Boscolo
Goals: Fontana (1/1)
Fily Stadium, Moscow

* * *

12 September 2015

Ukraine| 4–64|  Serbia

|
|

Tries: Shalaev
Goals: Bashevskii (0/1)| Report| Tries: Gak (2), Stevanovic (3), Calic, V. Dedic, Nedeljkovic (2), Madzarevic, Zogovic
Goals: Vukanovic (0/1), V. Dedic (10/11)
FC Locomotive Stadium, Chop

### First round (cont.)

[edit]

Main article: 2015 Rugby League European Championship C

Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Difference | Points

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Spain | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 116 | 34 | 82 | 4
Malta | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 60 | 40 | 20 | 2
Greece | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 106 | -102 | 0

26 September 2015
18:00

Spain  | 40–30  |  Malta

|
|

Tries: Morro
Garcia (3)
O'Doutres
Puerta
Pilkington
Goals: Garcia 6/7  | Report
| Tries: Blyton-Keep
Francois Hussain
Burke Zarb
Lynch
Goals: Blyton-Keep 5/5

Polideportivo Quatre Carreres, Valencia
Player of the Match:  Daniel Garcia

* * *

10 October 2015

Malta  | 30–01 |  Greece

|
|

|  |

Marsa

* * *

17 October 2015
16:30

Greece  | 4–76  |  Spain

|
|

Tries: Roussos 57'
Goals: Koutsimbogiorgos 0/1  | Report
| Tries: Puerta (2) 11', 47'
Lopez (2) 24', 64'
Lagunas (2) 33', 75'
Doutres 4'
Blanco 7'
Dulley 16'
Morro 18'
Mehamed González 27'
Thorp 61'
Perez-Fuster 68'
Bringuier 78'
Goals: Doutres 8/12
Ivan Mendez 1/1
Aitor Davila 1/1

Athens

### Second round

[edit]

Main article: 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification – Europe

The tournament featured two groups of three teams playing in a single round-robin format. The winners of each group qualified for the World Cup, while the runners-up faced each other in a play-off match on 5 November 2016 to determine the final spot. A seeded draw took place to determine the groups on 5 November 2015.

Group A

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| 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  |

Source: [citation needed]

|  |  |

|
|
|

15 October 2016 | Wales  | 50–0 |  Serbia | Stebonheath Park, Llanelli
22 October 2016 | Serbia  | 14–62 |  Italy | Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
29 October 2016 | Italy  | 14–20 |  Wales | Stadio Brianteo, Monza

Group B

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| 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  |

Source: [citation needed]

|  |  |

|
|
|

15 October 2016 | Russia  | 40–6 |  Spain | Fili Stadium, Moscow
22 October 2016 | Spain  | 6–46 |  Ireland | Polideportivo Quatre Carrares, Valencia
29 October 2016 | Ireland  | 70–16 |  Russia | Carlisle Grounds, Bray

Playoff

Main article: 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification (Europe play-off)

2017 Rugby League World Cup Europe qualification play-off

4 November 2016
20:00 GMT (UTC+0:00)

Italy  | 76–0  |  Russia

|
|

Tries: Castellaro (2), Cerruto (2), Lepori (2), Wilkie (2), Campese, Celerino, Centrone, Santi, Wakeman, Walker
Goals: Campese (10/14)
| Report (RLIF)

Leigh Sports Village, Leigh
Attendance: 450
Referee: Chris Campbell (England)
Player of the Match: Terry Campese (Italy)

## Middle East-Africa

[edit]

Main article: 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification (Middle East-Africa play-off)

One team qualified from this region. A two match series was held between South Africa and Lebanon to determine the qualifier.[6]

|  |  |

|
|
|

25 October 2015 | South Africa  | 12–40 |  Lebanon | Bosman Stadium, Brakpan
31 October 2015 | South Africa  | 16–50 |  Lebanon | Bosman Stadium, Brakpan

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Qualification Details for 2017 Rugby League World Cup Announced". RLEF. 3 August 2014. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014.
2. ^ Papua New Guinea to co-host Rugby League World Cup
3. ^ "Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers Awarded to Jacksonville & Deland, FL". Archived from the original on 16 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
4. ^ "Annual Report 2015" (PDF). European Rugby League. p. 37.
5. ^ "European Qualifiers for World Cup 2017 Announced". Rugby League International Federation. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
6. ^ "Venue changed for Middle East-Africa RLWC qualifier". Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.

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*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[PF]: Points for
*[PA]: Points against
*[PD]: Point difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[ Pld ]: Played
*[ W ]: Won
*[ D ]: Drawn
*[ L ]: Lost
*[ PF ]: Points for
*[ PA ]: Points against
*[ +/− ]: Points against
*[ Pts ]: Points
*[Pos]: Position