The 2023 Rugby World Cup regional play-off and Final Qualification Tournament were the final two stages of the qualifying process for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. A cross-regional play-off match determined the Asia/Pacific play-off winner berth, after which a global repechage tournament between four teams (Africa 2, Americas 3, Europe 3 and the loser of the Asia/Pacific play-off) decided the twentieth and final team qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Tonga and Portugal secured the last two berths by winning respectively the Asia/Pacific play-off and Final Qualification Tournament.
Format Asia/Pacific play-off This match will be a single leg qualification match between Asia 1 (the winner of the Asian qualification process) and Oceania 2 (the winner of Round 3 in the Oceania qualification process). The winner of this play-off qualifies for the World Cup as Asia/Pacific Play-off winner and join Pool B, whilst the loser advances to the Final Qualification Tournament.
Final Qualification Tournament The Final Qualification Tournament will be contested as a four-team round-robin tournament and hosted at a neutral venue in Dubai, replicating the process first introduced for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The participating teams include the runner-up of the African qualification round 3 (Africa 2), the losing side of the Americas 2 qualifier (Americas 3), the third-ranked side of the Europe qualification (Europe 3), and the loser of the Asia/Oceania play-off (Asia 1 or Oceania 2). The winner will qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and will join Pool C.
Teams Five teams progressed to the regional play-off and Final Qualification Tournament stages for the final two non-regional seeds in the World Cup. World rankings are as per date progressing to the play-off phase.
Nation Rank Progression date Qualifying statuscolspan=4 1617 July 2021Qualified by defeating Hong Kong on 23 July 2022colspan=4 2223 July 2022 Eliminated by United States on 12 November 2022 3310 July 2022 Eliminated by Portugal on 12 November 2022 2027 June 2022 Qualified on 18 November 2022 1916 July 2022 Eliminated by Portugal on 18 November 2022
Asia/Pacific play-off
Team details FB 15Telusa Veainu RW 14Tima Fainga'anukuOC 13Afusipa TaumoepeauIC 12Fetuli PaeaLW 11Anzelo Tuitavuki FH 10William Havili SH 9 Sonatane Takulua (c) N8 8 Sione Havili Talitui OF 7 Solomone Funaki BF 6 Tanginoa HalaifonuaRL 5 Sam LousiLL 4 Leva Fifita TP 3 Ben Tameifuna HK 2 Siua Maile LP 1 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi Replacements:HK 16Sam Moli PR 17David Lolohea PR 18Siate Tokolahi LK 19Semisi Paea FL 20Lopeti Timani SH 21Manu Paea FH 22James Faiva WG 23Otumaka Mausia Coach: Toutai Kefu FB 15Nate de TheiryRW 14Matt WorleyOC 13Benjamin Axten-BurrettIC 12Tom HillLW 11Guy Spanton FH 10Gregor McNeishSH 9 Jack Combes N8 8 Joshua Hrstich (c)OF 7 Luke van der Smit BF 6 James Sawyer RL 5 Patrick Jenkinson LL 4 James Cunningham TP 3 Faizal Solomona Penesa HK 2 Alexander Post LP 1 Callum Smith Replacements:HK 16John McCormick-Houston PR 17Ashton Hyde PR 18Ian Etheridge FL 19Jamie Pincott LK 20Kyle Sullivan FL 21Gregor Ramage SH 22Bryn Phillips WG 23Will Panday Coach: Lewis Evans Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia) Graham Cooper (Australia) Television match official: James Leckie (Australia) Notes: This was the first meeting between the two sides.
Final Qualification Tournament Qualified as Final Qualification Tournament winner
Nation Games Points TryBonus LosingBonus Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost For Against 1321014330+11320122321013337+9620123310243109–660044 300332175011Points were awarded to the teams as follows:4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw, no points for a loss1 bonus point for scoring 4 or more tries (TBP)1 bonus point for a loss by 7 points or under (LBP)
Fixtures Round 1
Team details FB 15Mitch WilsonRW 14Christian DyerOC 13Marcel Brache (c)IC 12Paul Lasike LW 11Nate AugspurgerFH 10Luke Carty SH 9 Ryan Rees N8 8 Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz OF 7 Cory DanielBF 6 Viliami HeluRL 5 Cam Dolan LL 4 Siaosi Mahoni TP 3 Paul Mullen HK 2 Dylan Fawsitt LP 1 Jack Iscaro Replacements:HK 16Mike Sosene-Feagai PR 17David Ainuʻu PR 18Nathan Sylvia LK 19Greg Peterson FL 20Moni Tonga’uiha SH 21Ruben de Haas CE 22Bryce Campbell FH 23AJ MacGinty Coach: Gary Gold FB 15Darwin MukidzaRW 14Geofrey Okwach OC 13Bryceson AdakaIC 12John OkothLW 11Jacob OjeeFH 10Geoffrey Ominde SH 9 Samuel AsatiN8 8 Bethwel Anami OF 7 Daniel Sikuta (c) BF 6 George NyambuaRL 5 Thomas Okeyo LL 4 Malcolm OnsandoTP 3 Ephraim Oduor HK 2 Eugene Sifuna LP 1 Patrick Ouko Replacements:HK 16Teddy Akala PR 17Andrew Siminyu PR 18Joseph Odero LK 19Brian Juma FL 20Martin Owilah SH 21Brian Tanga FH 22Timothy Omela CE 23Joshua Weru Coach: Paul Odera Assistant referees: Damian Schneider (Argentina) Eoghan Cross (Ireland) Television match official: Olly Hodges (Ireland) Notes: Cory Daniel, Viliami Helu, Jack Iscaro, Ryan Rees, Nathan Sylvia and Mitch Wilson (all United States) made their international debuts. This was the first meeting between these two nations.
Team details FB 15Nuno Sousa GuedesRW 14Rodrigo MartaOC 13José Lima IC 12Tomás Appleton (c)LW 11Raffaele Storti FH 10Miguel MoraisSH 9 Samuel Marques N8 8 Rafael Simões OF 7 David Carvalho BF 6 João Granate RL 5 José MadeiraLL 4 Steevy CerqueiraTP 3 Diogo Hasse Ferreira HK 2 Mike Tadjer LP 1 Francisco Fernandes Replacements:PR 16David Costa HK 17Duarte Diniz PR 18António Costa LK 19Duarte Torgal FL 20Thibault de Freitas SH 21Pedro Lucas FB 22Manuel Cardoso Pinto WG 23Vincent Pinto Coach: Patrice Lagisquet FB 15Nathan de ThierryRW 14Matt Worley OC 13Jack NevilleIC 12Tom Hill LW 11Sean Taylor FH 10Gregor McNeishSH 9 Jamie Lauder N8 8 Joshua Hrstich (c) OF 7 James SawyerBF 6 James CunninghamRL 5 Mark PriorLL 4 Patrick Jenkinson TP 3 Zac Cinnamond HK 2 Alexander Post LP 1 Ben Higgins Replacements:HK 16John McCormick-Houston PR 17Ashton Hyde PR 18Ian Etheridge FL 19Jamie Pincott LK 20Luke van der Smit SH 21Bryn Phillips WG 22Charles Higson-Smith CE 23Guy Spanto Coach: Lewis Evans Assistant referees: Damian Schneider (Argentina) Eoghan Cross (Ireland) Television match official: Olly Hodges (Ireland) Notes: Sean Taylor (Hong Kong) made his international debut. This was Portugal's first victory over Hong Kong. No replacement was issued for João Granate.
Round 2
Team details FB 15Simão BentoRW 14Vincent PintoOC 13José Lima IC 12Tomás Appleton (c)LW 11Manuel Cardoso Pinto FH 10Jerónimo PortelaSH 9 Samuel Marques N8 8 Thibault de Freitas OF 7 José MadeiraBF 6 Nicolas MartinsRL 5 José Rebelo de AndradeLL 4 Steevy Cerqueira TP 3 António Costa HK 2 Mike Tadjer LP 1 David Costa Replacements:PR 16Francisco Fernandes HK 17Lionel Campergue PR 18 Diogo Ferreira LK 19Duarte Torgal FL 20Antonio Cerejo SH 21João Bello WG 22Raffaele Storti FB 23Nuno Sousa Guedes Coach: Patrice Lagisquet FB 15Samuel Asati RW 14Timothy OmelaOC 13Bryceson Adaka IC 12John OkothLW 11Beldad Ogeta FH 10Harmony WamalwaSH 9 Brian TangaN8 8 Joshua Weru OF 7 Martin OwilahBF 6 Thomas OkeyoRL 5 Brian Juma LL 4 Malcolm Onsando (c) TP 3 Ephraim Oduor HK 2 Teddy Akala LP 1 Edward Mwaura Replacements:HK 16Eugene Sifuna PR 17Andrew Siminyu PR 18Ian Masheti LK 19Clinton Odhiambo FL 20George Nyambua SH 21Samson Onsomu CE 22Peter Kilonzo WG 23Geofrey Okwach Coach: Paul Odera Assistant referees: Damian Schneider (Argentina) AJ Jacobs (South Africa) Television match official: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Team details FB 15Mitch WilsonRW 14Christian DyerOC 13Marcel BracheIC 12Paul Lasike LW 11Nate AugspurgerFH 10AJ MacGinty (c) SH 9 Ruben de Haas N8 8 Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz OF 7 Cory DanielBF 6 Viliami HeluRL 5 Cam DolanLL 4 Greg Peterson TP 3 Paul Mullen HK 2 Kapeli Pifeleti LP 1 David Ainuʻu Replacements:HK 16Dylan Fawsitt PR 17Chance Wenglewski PR 18Nathan Sylvia LK 19Siaosi Mahoni FL 20Moni Tonga’uiha SH 21Ryan Rees FH 22Luke Carty CE 23Bryce Campbell Coach: Gary Gold FB 15Nathan de ThierryRW 14Matt WorleyOC 13Jack NevilleIC 12Tom Hill LW 11Sean Taylor FH 10Gregor McNeish SH 9 Bryn PhillipsN8 8 Luke van der SmitOF 7 Gregor Ramage BF 6 Joshua Hrstich (c)RL 5 James CunninghamLL 4 Mark Prior TP 3 Zac Cinnamond HK 2 Alexander Post LP 1 Ben Higgins Replacements:HK 16John McCormick-Houston PR 17Ashton Hyde PR 18Faizal Solomona FL 19Jamie Pincott LK 20Kyle Sullivan SH 21Jamie Lauder FH 22Nickolas Cumming CE 23Guy Spanton Coach: Lewis Evans Assistant referees: Damian Schneider (Argentina) AJ Jacobs (South Africa) Television match official: Olly Hodges (Ireland) Notes: Nickolas Cumming (Hong Kong) made his international debut.
Round 3
Team details FB 15Nathan de Thierry RW 14Matt Worley OC 13Jack NevilleIC 12Tom HillLW 11Sean TaylorFH 10Gregor McNeishSH 9 Bryn Phillips N8 8 Luke van der Smit OF 7 Gregor RamageBF 6 Joshua Hrstich (c) RL 5 Kyle SullivanLL 4 Mark PriorTP 3 Zac Cinnamond HK 2 John McCormick-Houston LP 1 Ashton Hyde Replacements:HK 16Jak Lam PR 17Ben Higgins PR 18Keelan Chapman LK 19James Cunningham FL 20Sam TsoiSH 21Jack Combes FH 22Nickolas CummingCE 23Fong Kit FungCoach: Lewis Evans FB 15Darwin MukidzaRW 14Brian TangaOC 13Bryceson AdakaIC 12John OkothLW 11Jacob OjeeFH 10Geoffrey Ominde SH 9 Samuel Asati N8 8 Bethwel Anami OF 7 Martin OwilahBF 6 George NyambuaRL 5 Brian Juma LL 4 Malcolm Onsando (c)TP 3 Ephraim Oduor HK 2 Eugene Sifuna LP 1 Patrick Ouko Replacements:HK 16Brian Waraba PR 17Andrew Siminyu PR 18Joseph Odero LK 19Clinton Odhiambo FL 20Joshua Weru SH 21Geofrey Okwach FH 22Timothy OmelaCE 23Samson Onsomu Coach: Paul Odera Assistant referees: Damian Schneider (Argentina) AJ Jacobs (South Africa) Television match official: Chris Hart (New Zealand)
Team details FB 15Mitch WilsonRW 14Christian DyerOC 13Bryce CampbellIC 12Paul LasikeLW 11Nate Augspurger FH 10AJ MacGinty (c)SH 9 Ruben de HaasN8 8 Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz OF 7 Cory DanielBF 6 Viliami Helu RL 5 Cam DolanLL 4 Greg PetersonTP 3 Paul Mullen HK 2 Kapeli Pifeleti LP 1 David Ainuʻu Replacements:HK 16Mike Sosene-Feagai PR 17Jack Iscaro PR 18Nathan Sylvia FL 19Benjamín Bonasso FL 20Moni Tonga’uiha FH 21Luke CartyFB 22Chris MattinaCE 23Tavite LopetiCoach: Gary Gold FB 15Nuno Sousa Guedes RW 14Raffaele StortiOC 13José Lima IC 12Tomás Appleton (c)LW 11Rodrigo MartaFH 10Jerónimo PortelaSH 9 Samuel MarquesN8 8 Thibault de Freitas OF 7 Rafael SimõesBF 6 João GranateRL 5 José MadeiraLL 4 Steevy Cerqueira TP 3 Diogo Ferreira HK 2 Mike Tadjer LP 1 Francisco Fernandes Replacements:PR 16David Costa HK 17Lionel Campergue PR 18António Costa LK 19José Rebelo de Andrade FL 20Nicolas Martins SH 21Pedro LucasFB 22Vincent Pinto WG 23Simão Bento Coach: Patrice Lagisquet Assistant referees: Damian Schneider (Argentina) AJ Jacobs (South Africa) Television match official: Chris Hart (New Zealand) Notes: José Lima (Portugal) earned his 50th test cap. This was the first draw between these two sides. With this result, Portugal qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2007. With this result, USA miss the World Cup for the first time since 1995.
References