2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification
{{Infobox international football competition
| tourney_name = 2021 World Cup qualification
| year =
| alt =
| caption =
| host countries =
| dates = {{nowrap|June 2018 – November 2019}}
| num_teams = 20
| confederations = 4
| matches =
| goals =
| attendance =
| top_scorer =
| prevseason = 2017
| nextseason = 2026
}}
The 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification was the qualifying process which will decide the 8 teams that would join the 8 quarter-finalists from the 2017 World Cup including the hosts England, who received an automatic spot, at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. The process commenced in June 2018, with the commencement of the 2018–19 Rugby League European Championship C tournament, which acted as the first round for European qualification.
Background
In October 2016, England was announced as the host the tournament, granting them automatic qualification.{{cite web|date=27 October 2016|title=England to host RLWC2021 - North America recommended for RLWC2025|url=http://rlif.com/article/8179/england-to-host-rlwc---north-america-recommended-for-rlwc|publisher=RLIF|access-date=28 March 2018}}
In March 2017, the RLIF confirmed that the 8 quarter-finalists from the 2017 World Cup would receive automatic qualification to the 2021 tournament, along with details of how many slots each region will be allocated: "Seven teams will be qualified from Europe, six from the Asia-Pacific, two from the Americas, and one from a play-off series hosted in Middle East/Africa."{{cite web|date=29 March 2017|title=Statement from the RLIF Board meeting - March 28th 2017|url=http://www.rlif.com/article/8247/statement-fr|publisher=RLIF|access-date=28 March 2018}} Because Lebanon gained automatic qualification, a repechage play-off between the 2nd placed Middle East/Africa team (behind Lebanon), 2nd placed Americas team (behind the Americas qualifying team), and the 7th placed Asia-Pacific team (behind the 6 auto qualifiers) will take place instead of qualifying 2 Americas teams.
The RLIF requires participating nations to hold full or affiliate level membership.{{cite web|title=RLIF - Competitions|url=http://www.rlif.com/the_game/competitions|publisher=RLIF|access-date=29 August 2018|quote=It is open to all full and affiliate members of the RLIF.}} The Netherlands are the only such nation that opted to not participate.
Qualified teams
{{RLWC2021 teams}}
Europe
{{rlnt|England}} were the only European team to have been guaranteed qualification as they are hosting the tournament. {{rlnt|France}}, {{rlnt|Ireland}}, {{rlnt|Italy}}, {{rlnt|Scotland}}, and {{rlnt|Wales}} all failed to reach the quarter finals of the 2017 World Cup. With the World Cup expanding to 16 teams in 2021, one extra European slot was available in comparison to the 2017 tournament.
The qualification structure is as follows:{{cite web|date=26 March 2018|title=The Road to the 2021 Rugby League World Cup Begins in Vrchlabi|url=http://rlif.com/article/8390/|publisher=Rugby League International Federation|access-date=28 March 2018}}
- First round: 4 teams, who are the top-ranked teams in Europe excluding {{rlnt|England}}, play in round-robin matches for the 2018 European Championship. The winners and runners-up qualify for the World Cup, with third and fourth place advancing to the third round.
- Second round: 6 teams divided into two pools of three teams play round-robin matches with the winners and runners-up of each pool qualifying for the World Cup.
=First round=
{{main|2018 Rugby League European Championship}}
The 2018 European Championship acted as the first round of European qualification for the 2021 World Cup and automatically qualified 2 teams to the World Cup; France and Wales. The bottom two nations; Ireland and Scotland, became the top seeds in the third round.{{cite web |url=http://walesrugbyleague.co.uk/article/16359/world-cup-qualification-up-for-grabs-this-autumn-as-wales-face-france-ireland-and-scotland-in-european-championship |title=World Cup qualification up for grabs this autumn as Wales face France, Ireland and Scotland in European Championship |date=9 May 2018 |access-date=9 May 2018 |publisher=Wales Rugby League}}{{cite web|date=9 May 2018|title=Next steps on road to World Cup 2021 revealed for Europe & Americas|url=http://www.asiapacificrl.com/2018/05/09/next-steps-on-road-to-world-cup-2021-revealed-for-europe-americas/|publisher=Asia Pacific RL|access-date=9 May 2018}}
{{#lst:2018 Rugby League European Championship|Table}}
{{#lst:2018 Rugby League European Championship|IREvSCO1}}
{{#lst:2018 Rugby League European Championship|FRAvWAL1}}
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{{#lst:2018 Rugby League European Championship|SCOvWAL1}}
{{#lst:2018 Rugby League European Championship|IREvFRA1}}
----
{{#lst:2018 Rugby League European Championship|FRAvSCO1}}
{{#lst:2018 Rugby League European Championship|WALvIRE1}}
=Second round=
{{main|2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification – Europe Repechage}}
The second round of European qualification allowed four of the six teams to advance to the World Cup. It was scheduled for October and November 2019 and consisted of {{rlnt|Ireland}}, {{rlnt|Scotland}}, {{rlnt|Serbia}}{{efn|name=fn1|{{rlnt|Russia}} were the winners of the European Qualifying B tournament but withdrew from the play-offs in August 2019 to be replaced by Serbia.{{cite press release |last=Caplan |first=Phil |date=25 August 2019 |title=Serbia replace Russia in Rugby League World Cup qualifiers |url=https://philcaplan.wordpress.com/2019/08/25/serbia-replace-russia-in-rugby-league-world-cup-qualifiers/ |publisher=Rugby League European Federation |access-date=25 August 2019}}}}, {{rlnt|Spain}}, {{rlnt|Greece}} and {{rlnt|Italy}}. The six teams were split into two round-robin pools. The winners and runner-up in each pool qualified for the 2021 World Cup. There was no European qualification to the intercontinental play-off. The qualifiers were Ireland and Italy from Pool A and Scotland and Greece from Pool B.
Pool A
{{#lst:2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification – Europe Repechage|GroupA}}
{{#lst:2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification – Europe Repechage|ESPvIRL1}}
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{{#lst:2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification – Europe Repechage|ITAvESP1}}
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{{#lst:2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification – Europe Repechage|IRLvITA1}}
Pool B
{{#lst:2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification – Europe Repechage|GroupB}}
{{#lst:2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification – Europe Repechage|SCOvSRB1}}
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{{#lst:2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification – Europe Repechage|GRCvSCO1}}
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{{#lst:2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification – Europe Repechage|SRBvGRC1}}
Americas
{{main|2018 Americas Rugby League Championship}}
The Americas group comprised four teams and was played as a single elimination knock-out tournament. {{Rlnt|Jamaica}} won the group beating {{Rlnt|Canada}} in the first round and then {{Rlnt|USA}} in the final. {{Rlnt|USA}} qualified for the intercontinental play-off by finishing as the runner-up of the tournament.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/46250413 |title=Rugby League World Cup: Jamaica reach tournament for first time |work=BBC Sport |date=17 November 2018}}
{{4TeamBracket
| RD1 = Semi-finals
| RD2 = Final
|team-width=200
|score-width=50
| seeds = no
| RD1-team1 = {{rl|Canada}}
| RD1-score1 = 8
| RD1-team2 = {{rl|Jamaica}}
| RD1-score2 = 38
| RD1-team3 = {{rl|USA}}
| RD1-score3 = 62
| RD1-team4 = {{rl|Chile}}
| RD1-score4 = 0
| RD2-team1 = {{rl|USA}}
| RD2-score1 = 10
| RD2-team2 = {{rl|Jamaica}}
| RD2-score2 = 16
}}
{{#lst:2018 Americas Rugby League Championship|CANvJAM1}}
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{{#lst:2018 Americas Rugby League Championship|USAvCHL1}}
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{{#lst:2018 Americas Rugby League Championship|USAvJAM1}}
Inter-regional Repechage
The intercontinental play-off consisted of the Americas championship runner up (United States), 7th highest ranked Asia-Pacific team (Cook Islands), and the 2nd highest ranked Middle East-Africa team (South Africa). Cook Islands played South Africa in a preliminary match, which Cook Islands won. They then defeated the United States in the final play-off match, clinching the final place at the World Cup.
{{3TeamBracket
| RD1 = Play-off qualifier
| RD2 = Play-off
|team-width=200
|score-width=50
| seeds = no
|RD1-team1 = {{rl|Cook Islands}}
|RD1-score1 = 66
|RD1-team2 = {{rl|South Africa}}
|RD1-score2 = 6
|RD2-team1 = {{rl|USA}}
|RD2-score1 = 16
|RD2-team2 = {{rl|Cook Islands}}
|RD2-score2 = 38
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox
| event = Play-off qualifier
| date = 21 June 2019
| time = 19:00 AEST (UTC+10:00)
| team1 = {{rl-rt|Cook Islands}}
| score = 66–6
| report =
| team2 = {{rl|South Africa}}
| try1 = Ulberg (3), Niukore (2), R. Rennie (2), Dargan, E. Noovao, Puna, V. Rennie, Teroi
| goal1 = Marsters (9/12)
| try2 = Turner
| goal2 = Cryer (1/1)
| stadium = Ringrose Park, Sydney{{cite web|date=7 March 2019|title=Cook Islands Rugby League focused on World Cup qualifier|url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/384151/sport-cook-islands-rugby-league-focused-on-world-cup-qualifier|publisher=Radio NZ|accessdate=27 March 2019}}{{cite web|date=21 April 2019|title=Cook Islands to face South Africa in qualifier for RLWC2021|url=http://rlif.com/article/8614/|publisher=RLIF|accessdate=21 April 2019}}
| referee = Peter Gough (Australia){{cite web|date=19 June 2019|title=Match officials for RLWC2021 Qualifier and RLIF Oceania Cup fixtures|url=http://rlif.com/article/8652/match-officials-for-rlwc-qualifier-and-rlif-oceania-cup-fixtures|publisher=RLIF|accessdate=19 June 2019}}
| touch = Adam Cassidy (Australia), Darian Furner (Australia)
| manofmatch = Vincent Rennie (Cook Islands)
}}
| border="0" width="100%" class="collapsible collapsed" | ||
| Team details | ||
|---|---|---|
| {| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="50%"| {| style="font-size: 100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" | ||
| width="25"| | width="25"| || ||width="25"| | |
| FB | 1 | Kayal Iro |
| WG | 2 | Paul Ulberg |
| CE | 3 | Marata Niukore |
| CE | 4 | Reubenn Rennie |
| WG | 5 | Steven Marsters |
| FE | 6 | Brad Takairangi (c) |
| HB | 7 | Troy Dargan |
| PR | 8 | Sam Mataora |
| HK | 9 | Aaron Teroi |
| PR | 10 | Tepai Moeroa |
| SR | 14 | Vincent Rennie |
| SR | 12 | Reuben Porter |
| LK | 13 | Pride Petterson-Robati |
| colspan=3|Interchange: | ||
| BE | 11 | Brody Tamarua |
| BE | 15 | Eli Noovao |
| BE | 16 | Moses Noovao-McGreal |
| BE | 17 | John Puna |
| colspan=3|Coach: | ||
| colspan="4"|{{flagdeco|NZL}}{{flagdeco|COK}} Tony Iro |
|valign="top" width="50%"|
| style="font-size: 100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" | ||
| width="25"| | width="25"| || ||width="25"| | |
|---|---|---|
| FB | 1 | Will Smith Jnr |
| WG | 2 | Keegan Turner |
| CE | 3 | Byron Hutchinson |
| CE | 4 | Esje Esterhuizen |
| WG | 5 | Darren O'Donovan |
| FE | 6 | Bevan De Vries |
| HB | 7 | Kam Cryer (c) |
| PR | 8 | Joel Tubbs |
| HK | 9 | Edward Proudler |
| PR | 10 | Ashley Bull |
| SR | 11 | Shane Gillham (c) |
| SR | 12 | Ayden Perry |
| LK | 13 | Jonathan Soares |
| colspan=3|Interchange: | ||
| BE | 14 | Jason King |
| BE | 15 | Seth Buckley |
| BE | 18 | Louis Musson |
| BE | 20 | Allan Kasselman |
| colspan=3|Coach: | ||
| colspan="4"|{{no flag|Jon Wilson}} |
|}
|}
----
{{rugbyleaguebox
| event = Play-off
| date = 16 November 2019
| time = 17:00 ET (UTC−04:00){{cite web|last=Freeman|first=Clayton|date=15 November 2019|title=U.S., Cook Islands to clash in Rugby League World Cup playoff at UNF|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/2019/11/15/us-cook-islands-to-clash-in-rugby-league-world-cup-playoff-at-unf/2284042007/|work=The Florida Times-Union|access-date=4 November 2022}}
| team1 = {{rl-rt|United States}}
| score = 16–38
| report = [https://europeanrugbyleague.com/fixtures/1074 Report]
| team2 = {{rl|Cook Islands}}
| try1 = Faraimo, Howard, Shipway
| goal1 = Faraimo (2/3)
| try2 = Dargan (2), Arona, Gelling, Glenn, R. Rennie, V. Rennie
| goal2 = Marsters (5/7)
| stadium = Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville{{cite web|date=11 June 2019|title=Jacksonville to host final qualifier for RLWC2021|url=http://rlif.com/article/8643/jacksonville-to-host-final-qualifier-for-rlwc|publisher=RLIF.com|accessdate=11 June 2019}}
| referee = Scott Mikalauskas (England)
| touch = Peter Tapper (Jamaica), Kemoy White (Jamaica){{cite web|date=18 November 2019|title=Tweet|url=https://twitter.com/JAMRugbyLeague/status/1196284446900662272|publisher=Jamaica Rugby League Association|website=Twitter|accessdate=18 November 2019}}
}}
| border="0" width="100%" class="collapsible collapsed" | ||
| Team details | ||
|---|---|---|
| {| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="50%"| {| style="font-size: 100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" | ||
| width="25"| | width="25"| || ||width="25"| | |
| FB | 1 | Corey Makelim |
| WG | 2 | Ryan Burroughs |
| CE | 3 | Bureta Faraimo |
| CE | 4 | Elijah Ieriko |
| WG | 5 | Jamil Robinson |
| FE | 6 | Rory Humphreys |
| HB | 7 | Connor Donehue |
| PR | 14 | Mark Offerdahl (c) |
| HK | 9 | Kristian Freed |
| PR | 15 | Sonny Pettybourne |
| SR | 11 | Matt Shipway |
| SR | 12 | Daniel Howard |
| LK | 13 | Eddy Pettybourne |
| colspan=3|Interchange: | ||
| BE | 10 | Tim Stubbs |
| BE | 17 | Joe Eichner |
| BE | 18 | Charlie Jones |
| BE | 19 | Kevin Reed Jr |
| colspan=3|Coach: | ||
| colspan="4"|{{flagdeco|AUS}} Sean Rutgerson |
|valign="top" width="50%"|
| style="font-size: 100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" | ||
| width="25"| | width="25"| || ||width="25"| | |
|---|---|---|
| FB | 1 | Kayal Iro |
| WG | 2 | Paul Ulberg |
| CE | 3 | Reubenn Rennie |
| CE | 4 | Anthony Gelling |
| WG | 5 | Steven Marsters |
| FE | 6 | Brad Takairangi |
| HB | 7 | Troy Dargan |
| PR | 8 | Sam Mataora |
| HK | 9 | Aaron Teroi |
| PR | 10 | Vincent Rennie |
| SR | 11 | Alex Glenn (c) |
| SR | 12 | Marata Niukore |
| LK | 13 | Dominique Peyroux {{yel}} |
| colspan=3|Interchange: | ||
| BE | 14 | Moses Noovao-McGreal |
| BE | 15 | Adam Tangata |
| BE | 16 | Uiti Baker |
| BE | 17 | Tevin Arona |
| colspan=3|Coach: | ||
| colspan="4"|{{flagdeco|NZL}}{{flagdeco|COK}} Tony Iro |
|}
|}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{RLWC2021}}
{{Rugby League World Cup}}
{{2018 in rugby league}}