2007 Rugby World Cup – European qualification was a European Nations Cup competition that decided which European teams participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. The group stages counted towards both qualification and the European Nations Cup. Hosts France and other 2003 World Cup quarter finalists England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales qualified automatically.
Qualification process There were three places available for European teams, and one place in the repechage. The teams were ranked according to their division in the European Nations Cup, taking into account the relegations and promotions at the end of the previous competition. Note that for the 2004/05 season Division 1 did not count towards World Cup qualification. The 2005/06 season decided which round (either 4 or 5) the teams entered. In the group rounds, there were three points awarded for a win, two for a draw, and one for a loss. There were no bonus points awarded.
Round 1 The eight teams from divisions 3B (apart from those newly relegated from 3A Hungary) and 3C (apart from Azerbaijan and Armenia) played each other in four two-legged playoffs. The winners entered the next round.
Round 2 The four Round 1 winners, Hungary, and the fifteen teams from divisions 2A, 2B and 3A were drawn into four groups of five. They played each other once, with the best two teams qualifying for the next round. The third placed teams played in two two-legged playoffs to qualify for the next round.
Round 3 The four winners, four runners-up, and two play-off winners from Round 2 were drawn into two groups of five. The best team from each group played each other in a two legged playoff for a place in the next round.
Round 4 The bottom three teams from Division 1 2005/06 and the winner of the previous round played two two-legged playoffs to enter the next round.
Round 5 The winner of Round 4 Playoff 1, the third placed team from Division 1 2005/06 and Six Nations competitor Italy form Pool A. The winner of Round 4 Playoff 2 and the first and second placed teams from Division 1 2005/06 form Pool B. The top team from each pool qualified for the World Cup as Europe 1 and Europe 2. The second placed teams entered the next round.
Round 6 The two second placed teams from Round 5 played a two-legged playoff, with the winner qualifying for the World Cup as Europe 3. The loser entered the repechage as Europe 4.
Round 1 Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria and Lithuania qualified for round 2.
Andorra won 99–12 on aggregate
The first match was refereed by André Watson. He was called by the International Board, because in this way the first match of qualification the new edition of Rugby World Cup could be refereed by the same judge as the last match (the final) of the Rugby World Cup 2003. Watson had announced his retirement from international rugby only three months before after a match between Australia and Pacific Islands.
Austria won 41–17 on aggregate
Bulgaria won 92–6 on aggregate
Lithuania won 113–7 on aggregate
Round 2
Pool A Spain and Croatia qualified for Round 3. Andorra entered the playoffs.
Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints played won drawn lost for against difference1431020155+146112431011554+6111342028875+1384410358141−8365400440177−1374
Match Schedule
Pool B Germany and Moldova qualified for Round 3. Denmark entered the playoffs.
Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints played won drawn lost for against difference1440024827+221122420210063+378342023384−5184420242101−5685400420168−1484
Match Schedule
Pool C Belgium and the Netherlands qualified for Round 3. Sweden entered the playoffs.
Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints played won drawn lost for against difference144009546+49122430113353+8010342027698−2284410363103−4065400456123−674
Match Schedule
Pool D Poland and Serbia and Montenegro qualified for round 3. Malta entered the playoffs.
Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints played won drawn lost for against difference1440012549+7612242117952+279342026685−198441127751+2675400438148−1104
Match Schedule
Playoffs Andorra and Malta qualified for Round 3.
Malta win 31–30 on aggregate
Andorra won 40–34 on aggregate
Round 3
Pool A Spain entered playoff. Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints played won drawn lost for against difference1440016332+13112243018796−9103420211374+3984410363131−6865400430123−934
Match Schedule
Pool B Germany entered playoff. Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints played won drawn lost for against difference1440020930+179122430110168+3310342024285−438441037686−1065400427186−1594
Match Schedule
Playoff Spain qualified for Round 4.
Spain win 42–28 on aggregate
European Nations Cup Division 1 2004/06 See 2004–2006_European_Nations_Cup_First_Division
Romania, Georgia, and Portugal qualified for Round 5. Russia, Czech Republic, and Ukraine qualified for Round 4. Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints played won drawn lost for against difference1 10802389 94+295262 10802353125+228263 10613193183 +10234 10415290202 +88195 10307164306−142166 10001077556−47910
Round 4 – September 2006 Spain and Russia qualified for Round 5.
Spain won 79–29 on aggregate
Russia won 62–28 on aggregate
Round 5 – October 2006
Pool A Italy qualified for World Cup as Europe 1. Portugal entered Round 6. Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints played won drawn lost for against difference122001507+14362210126106−804320023093−632
Match Schedule
Pool B Romania qualified for World Cup as Europe 2. Georgia entered Round 6.
Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints played won drawn lost for against difference122006328+356221014543+24320024380−372
Match Schedule
Round 6 – November 2006 Georgia qualified for World Cup as Europe 3. Portugal entered repechage as Europe 4.
Georgia won 28–14 on aggregate
References
External links World Cup website