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Understanding the 2021 World Cup Qualifiers

Springs09

Juniors
Messages
1,903
NEXT STEPS ON ROAD TO WORLD CUP 2021 REVEALED

The next stage of qualification for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, to be staged in England, has been revealed for Europe and the Americas.

France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will meet in the 2018 European Championship, over three weekends in October/November, with the top two automatically qualifying for the main tournament - joining the eight quarter finalists from 2017.

The nations finishing third and fourth will face Italy, the two top teams from Euro B (featuring Russia, Serbia and Spain) and winners of Euro C (comprising six nations) in a competition in October/November 2019, comprising of two pools.

The top two from the three-team pools will make the 2021 finals, taking the total European representation up to seven of the 16 nations - the 2021 tournament expanded overall by two from 2017.

In the Americas, four nations are eligible for the qualifying tournament to be held towards the end of this year, with the recent granting to Chile of affiliate membership of the Asia Pacific confederation. The first South Americans to be included, they join Canada, Jamaica and the USA.

The winners will qualify for the World Cup finals, with the runners up having the option to host a World Play Off group in late 2019.

RLIF chief executive David Collier commented: “The Rugby League International Federation is delighted to welcome new nations competing for World Cup qualification as the road to the 2021 Rugby League World Cup commences, in what we anticipate will be a highly competitive process.

“The integration of the calendar, with confirmation of fixtures for the next two years, is vitally important for all nations to plan their course and for the international game to continue to grow.”

Venues and dates are to be finalised, but the European Championship fixtures have been drawn as follows:


France vs Wales
Ireland vs Scotland


Scotland vs Wales
Ireland vs France


Wales vs Ireland
France vs Scotland


Just posted on Facebook page International Rugby League https://www.facebook.com/IntlRL/
 

Springs09

Juniors
Messages
1,903
So hopefully for the European Play-offs next year the 2 groups will be:

Group A
Italy
4th Euro Cup
2nd Euro B

Group B
3rd Euro Cup
1st Euro B
1st Euro C
 

Pommy

Coach
Messages
14,657
Without having to check back through the thread why are Italy already in the play offs?
Is it because they are ranked to high for the qualifiers and not in the euro cup?
 

adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,955
Europe decided then.

Italy gets shafted a bit with the non-inclusion in the European Cup A.. or anything in 2018 at all.
 

adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,955
Without having to check back through the thread why are Italy already in the play offs?
Is it because they are ranked to high for the qualifiers and not in the euro cup?

I'm guessing they fell awkwardly between A and B levels due to A either not wanting a 5 team tournament or Italy not having the funding or will to join in, and being too good for B.

A bit unfortunate, Italy participating in either of those tournaments would be more beneficial for them and the game.
 

adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,955
upload_2018-5-11_11-40-21.png



WORLD PLAY OFF
Americas Runner up
v
Asia Pacific HIGHEST RANKED
v
MEA HIGHEST RANKED

If this is final, it means Philippines will waltz into a World Cup qualifier without so much as a game and Cook Islands will not even get a chance. Dear oh dear oh dear this sport continually finds new ways to disappoint
 

LeagueXIII

First Grade
Messages
5,965
View attachment 19858



WORLD PLAY OFF
Americas Runner up
v
Asia Pacific HIGHEST RANKED
v
MEA HIGHEST RANKED

If this is final, it means Philippines will waltz into a World Cup qualifier without so much as a game and Cook Islands will not even get a chance. Dear oh dear oh dear this sport continually finds new ways to disappoint

Agreed why is the Cook Islands ignored? They have a vibrant rugby league compeition. Is it because they have a small population and no corporate support. Shame.
 

Springs09

Juniors
Messages
1,903
View attachment 19858



WORLD PLAY OFF
Americas Runner up
v
Asia Pacific HIGHEST RANKED
v
MEA HIGHEST RANKED

If this is final, it means Philippines will waltz into a World Cup qualifier without so much as a game and Cook Islands will not even get a chance. Dear oh dear oh dear this sport continually finds new ways to disappoint

What's the chances they came up with this and didn't even look at the rankings?

Have Cook Islands play Philippines, Niue and Vanuatu at the end of the year. Is it really that hard?
 

siv

First Grade
Messages
6,546
So what is the qualification process for Africa, Asia and Pacific nations ?

Good to see the RLEF setup a process

Now over to the MEA and APRLF representatives on their part of the process

Hope they invite Pakistan RL to play
 

paulmac

Juniors
Messages
776
What's the chances they came up with this and didn't even look at the rankings?

Have Cook Islands play Philippines, Niue and Vanuatu at the end of the year. Is it really that hard?
If only there was a tournament at the end of the year where these emerging nations could play each other to determine qualification :thinking:
 

langpark

First Grade
Messages
5,867
I'm guessing they fell awkwardly between A and B levels due to A either not wanting a 5 team tournament or Italy not having the funding or will to join in, and being too good for B.

A bit unfortunate, Italy participating in either of those tournaments would be more beneficial for them and the game.
The reason Italy aren't playing, has to be financial. This is a team that fielded a 100% heritage team in all their WC match, almost all of which were Aus-based players. It will cost them a fortune to fly them all over and pay their expenses for a month, unlike the other nations, who have the bulk of all their players UK/Europe-based.

...and let's not even discuss the possibility of Italy sending an all-domestic side, unless we want to see some world records broken.
 

paulmac

Juniors
Messages
776
If only there was a tournament at the end of the year where these emerging nations could play each other to determine qualification :thinking:
Actually giving this more thought. Already confirmed for the 2018 Emerging Nations World Cup are - from Asia Hong Kong,Japan,Phillipines,Thailand & from the Pacific - Niue,Vanuatu & Solomon Islands. If we were to add the Cook Islands we could have 2 groups of 4 where the winners of each group play each other in not only the Semifinals of the ENWC but also for a qualification spot at the RLWC proper.
 

langpark

First Grade
Messages
5,867
Actually giving this more thought. Already confirmed for the 2018 Emerging Nations World Cup are - from Asia Hong Kong,Japan,Phillipines,Thailand & from the Pacific - Niue,Vanuatu & Solomon Islands. If we were to add the Cook Islands we could have 2 groups of 4 where the winners of each group play each other in not only the Semifinals of the ENWC but also for a qualification spot at the RLWC proper.
There has been a lot of noise about this since the ENWC was announced. This competition should NEVER be used as a means of WC qualification, here's why. The whole ENWC concept was designed to be a launchpad for many nations starting Rugby League. Many of which, do not meet the absolute bare minimum criteria of being affiliate or observer members, many have no (or minimal) presence on the domestic front. Now some of these countries are trying to weasel their way into the WC by arguing that the winner should get a WC spot, essentially 'jumping the queue' past nations who have been doing things the right way all these years (Serbia, Ukraine etc.)
 

paulmac

Juniors
Messages
776
There has been a lot of noise about this since the ENWC was announced. This competition should NEVER be used as a means of WC qualification, here's why. The whole ENWC concept was designed to be a launchpad for many nations starting Rugby League. Many of which, do not meet the absolute bare minimum criteria of being affiliate or observer members, many have no (or minimal) presence on the domestic front. Now some of these countries are trying to weasel their way into the WC by arguing that the winner should get a WC spot, essentially 'jumping the queue' past nations who have been doing things the right way all these years (Serbia, Ukraine etc.)
Countries like Scotland,Ireland & Italy barely make the minimum criteria of affiliate or observer membership but all 3 played at the RLWC.
And for what is worth I never said the winner of the ENWC, I said I would group the Asia Pacific nations together so they can provide a qualifier, Which has to be better than just sending the highest ranked member (currently Phillipines) without playing a match.
 

BuderusIsaBeast

Juniors
Messages
554
View attachment 19858



WORLD PLAY OFF
Americas Runner up
v
Asia Pacific HIGHEST RANKED
v
MEA HIGHEST RANKED

If this is final, it means Philippines will waltz into a World Cup qualifier without so much as a game and Cook Islands will not even get a chance. Dear oh dear oh dear this sport continually finds new ways to disappoint

This must be a typo. It would be complete incompetence to deny countires like Cook Islands and Vanuatu to even have a chance at qualifiying.
 

Springs09

Juniors
Messages
1,903
There has been a lot of noise about this since the ENWC was announced. This competition should NEVER be used as a means of WC qualification, here's why. The whole ENWC concept was designed to be a launchpad for many nations starting Rugby League. Many of which, do not meet the absolute bare minimum criteria of being affiliate or observer members, many have no (or minimal) presence on the domestic front. Now some of these countries are trying to weasel their way into the WC by arguing that the winner should get a WC spot, essentially 'jumping the queue' past nations who have been doing things the right way all these years (Serbia, Ukraine etc.)

Well with that about the affiliate & observer member status, why is the WC qualification saying 'highest ranked Asia/Pacific' or 'highest ranked ME/Africa'? That could easily be taken by a nation that doesn't meet the requirements due to the way the international rankings is set up - countries like Cook Islands and Lebanon in the past have played higher ranked tier 2 nations and usually lose, while Philippines, USA, Vanuatu etc have played teams on their level and usually win, leading to Cook Islands & Lebanon being ranked below these countries.
 

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