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2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification

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2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification
Tournament details
Dates9 May 2015 – 29 October 2016
Teams13 (from 4 confederations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played28
2013
2021

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]

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 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: [citation needed]
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: Australia 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.[4]

First round

[edit]
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
 Serbia40–14 Ukraine
Tries Stevanovic, Djurkovic (3), Tulic, Calic, Zogovic, Nedeljkovic
Goals: Vukanovic 4/6
ReportTries: Miroshnichenko, Pozhidaev, Troyan
Goals: Skorbach 1/3
Zeleznicar Stadium, Nis

24 May 2014
 Russia24–18 Ukraine
Tries: Bratko, Ovchinnikov, Vlasyuk, Zdobnikov, Kosharin
Goals: Zdobnikov 1/2, Bratko 1/1
ReportTries: Skorbach (3)
Goals: Skorbach 3/3
Vereya Stadium, Vereya

21 June 2014
 Russia20–6 Serbia
Tries: Kosharin (2), Nisiforov, Bratko
Goals: Lysokon 2/4
ReportTries: Vukanovic
Goals: Vukanovic 1/1
Nara Stadium, Narofominsk

5 July 2014
 Italy54–12 Ukraine
Tries: Dalla Regione (3), Idammou (2), Miranda (2), Ameglio, De Mayer, Pagani
Goals: Fontana 7/10
ReportTries: I Karpenko, Troyan
Goals: Mazepa 2/2
Stadio Comunale, Gemona del Friuli

26 July 2014
 Italy22–18 Russia
Tries: De Meyer, Curione (2)
Goals: Bradley 5/6
ReportTries: Bratko, Izmailov, Botnarash
Goals: Lysokon 3/3
Stadio Comunale, Gemona del Friuli

10 September 2014
 Serbia45–6 Italy
Tries: Vukanovic (2), Novakovic, Calic, Djurkovic (2), Zogovic, Stevanovic
Goals: Vukanovic 4/4, Vojislav Dedic 2/4
Drop Goals: Novakovic
ReportTries: Celerino
Goals: Fontana 1/1
Makis Stadium, Belgrade

16 May 2015
 Serbia20–15 Russia
Tries: Stevanovic (2), Dedic, Zogovic
Goals: Dedic 2/4
ReportTries: Korolev, Ovchinnikov, Zdobnikov
Goals: Lysokin 1/2, Grigoryan 0/1
Drop Goals: Ovchnnikov
Makis Stadium, Belgrade

20 June 2015
 Italy14–21 Serbia
Tries: Boscolo, Lepori, Gazzoli
Goals: Fontana 1/3
ReportTries: Djurković, Janković, Stevanović
Goals: Vojislav Dedić 4/5
Drop Goals: Vojislav Dedić 1/1
Stadio Comunale, Gemona del Friuli

4 July 2015
 Ukraine20–34 Russia
Tries: Troyan, Veprik (2), Skorbach
Goals: Skorbach 2/4
ReportTries: Bratko (2), Korolev (2), Zabelin (2), Bulanov
Goals: Lysokon 2/3, Grigoryan 0/1, Bratko 1/3
Makiš Stadium, Belgrade1

18 July 2015
 Ukraine12–40 Italy
Tries: Troyan, Karpenko
Goals: Skorbach (2/2)
ReportTries: Bellotti (3), Illinca, Boscolo, Celerino, Decaro, Lepori
Goals: De Mayer 4/5
National University of Ukraine, Irpin

12 September 2015
 Russia26–6 Italy
Tries: Lysokon, Gaponov, Burlutskiy, Bratko, Botnarash
Goals: Lysokon (2/4), Bratko (1/1)
ReportTries: Boscolo
Goals: Fontana (1/1)
Fily Stadium, Moscow

12 September 2015
 Ukraine4–64 Serbia
Tries: Shalaev
Goals: Bashevskii (0/1)
ReportTries: 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.)

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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: Spain Daniel Garcia

10 October 2015
Malta  30–01  Greece

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

Second round

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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 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 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

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]

One team qualified from this region. A two match series was held between South Africa and Lebanon to determine the qualifier.[5]

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

References

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  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. ^ "European Qualifiers for World Cup 2017 Announced". Rugby League International Federation. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Venue changed for Middle East-Africa RLWC qualifier". Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.