What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

2021 Qualifiers

Messages
11,354
30264844_944881022339823_8850647366089310208_o.jpg
 
Messages
11,354
The town of Vrchlabi will host the preliminary stage of the European qualifying route to the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England, when the Czech Republic host Norway on 16th June.

It will be the opening fixture in Euro C which will comprise six nations split north and south. Germany are the other nation in the north group; Greece, Malta and Ukraine in the south. The respective group winners will face an elimination game at a neutral venue for promotion to Euro B and a place in the next stage of World Cup qualification, which will take place in autumn 2019.

Euro B will be played in October 2018 between Russia, Spain and Serbia, with the top two advancing to the 2019 qualification tournament and the bottom nation relegated to Euro C.

RLIF Chief Executive Officer David Collier said: “Integrating competitions with the European World Cup qualifiers provides added meaning to the games, which is one of the international federation’s key objectives. “The increasing number of member nations vying for a World Cup berth is further evidence of the growth of the sport, while the launch of preliminary qualification comes a year earlier than for the 2017WC, which is another sign that significant tournaments are being strategically positioned in the RLIF calendar.”

Further details of the next stage of European qualifying will be announced shortly, Netherlands and Latvia opted not to enter the process.

European Championship B & C Fixtures

European Championship B: Spain v Russia (Valencia, 6 October); Russia v Serbia (Moscow, 13 October); Serbia v Spain (Belgrade, 20 October)

European Championship C - North: Czech Republic v Norway (Vrchlabi, 16 June); Germany v Czech Republic (Osnabrück, 25 August); Norway v Germany (Porsgrunn, 15 September)

European Championship C - South: Malta v Ukraine (Marsa, 30 June); Ukraine v Greece (Kharkov, 8 September); Greece v Malta (Athens, 15 September)


https://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/1507/the-road-to-2021-rugby
 

Perth Tiger

Bench
Messages
3,022
Good on them for getting a structure in place for the qualifiers.

But.....

It seems pretty bloody strange if they have a tiered structure that a team from Group C can leap frog the teams in Group B for a spot in the final qualifiers? Surely it would make sense for the winner of Group C to be promoted to Group B and then the top 3 from that group go to the finals.

But hey, when has Rugby League ever done it the easy way
 

adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,955
Good on them for getting a structure in place for the qualifiers.

But.....

It seems pretty bloody strange if they have a tiered structure that a team from Group C can leap frog the teams in Group B for a spot in the final qualifiers? Surely it would make sense for the winner of Group C to be promoted to Group B and then the top 3 from that group go to the finals.

But hey, when has Rugby League ever done it the easy way

I considered a similar system but I think the relatively small amount of teams (and most of those teams and the RLIF having a very limited budget) has resulted in going with the 'lean' option.

Much of a muchness in the end.. 6 are qualifying from the final 8, pretty easy tournament for the top teams there.
 

adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,955
The circumstances around these qualifiers: barely any Euro teams auto qualifying making a high number of qualifiers, and a relatively low number of total teams (compared to other sports) makes it difficult to actually come up with an interesting, high stakes system.
 

langpark

First Grade
Messages
5,867
I can see Norway or Germany winning the northern group.

The southern group is a bit harder to predict. Ukraine have been pretty steady over the years. Greece's last result was a 50-8 loss to Serbia in October. Malta are the hardest of all to gauge as they haven't played a proper match (majority domestic players) since 2015, in their 40-30 loss to Spain. So this group will be the most interesting IMO.
 

langpark

First Grade
Messages
5,867
France DO have to qualify. Look at the chart again. After the group C and B matches are over, we will be left with a Final 8, from which only 6 will qualify. The exact format is unknown, but I'm guessing the 8 will be put into two groups of 4, from which the top 3 of each group will qualify, something like that.
 
Messages
11,354
France DO have to qualify. Look at the chart again. After the group C and B matches are over, we will be left with a Final 8, from which only 6 will qualify. The exact format is unknown, but I'm guessing the 8 will be put into two groups of 4, from which the top 3 of each group will qualify, something like that.
Sorry... long day
 

yakstorm

First Grade
Messages
5,293
So 2017 from Europe we had as part of the Qualifiers for the region:
  1. England (Auto-Qualify)
  2. France (Auto-Qualify)
  3. Scotland (Auto-Qualify)
  4. Wales
  5. Ireland
  6. Italy
  7. Russia
  8. Serbia
  9. Spain
  10. Ukraine
  11. Malta
  12. Greece
  13. Latvia
For 2021 it will be:
  1. England (Auto-Qualify)
  2. France
  3. Scotland
  4. Wales
  5. Ireland
  6. Italy
  7. Russia
  8. Serbia
  9. Spain
  10. Greece
  11. Malta
  12. Ukraine
  13. Czech Republic
  14. Germany
  15. Netherlands
So we've grown the pool of eligible nations in Europe by two, adding Czech Republic, Germany & the Netherlands, but we have lost Latvia.
 
Last edited:

deal.with.it

Juniors
Messages
2,086
So 2017 from Europe we had as part of the Qualifiers for the region:
  1. England (Auto-Qualify)
  2. France (Auto-Qualify)
  3. Scotland (Auto-Qualify)
  4. Wales
  5. Ireland
  6. Italy
  7. Russia
  8. Serbia
  9. Spain
  10. Ukraine
  11. Malta
  12. Greece
  13. Latvia
For 2021 it will be:
  1. England (Auto-Qualify)
  2. France
  3. Scotland
  4. Wales
  5. Ireland
  6. Italy
  7. Russia
  8. Serbia
  9. Spain
  10. Greece
  11. Malta
  12. Ukraine
  13. Czech Republic
  14. Germany
  15. Netherlands
So we've grown the pool of eligible nations in Europe by two, adding Czech Republic, Germany & the Netherlands, but we have lost Latvia.

I thought netherlands declined to participate
 

adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,955
So 2017 from Europe we had as part of the Qualifiers for the region:
  1. England (Auto-Qualify)
  2. France (Auto-Qualify)
  3. Scotland (Auto-Qualify)
  4. Wales
  5. Ireland
  6. Italy
  7. Russia
  8. Serbia
  9. Spain
  10. Ukraine
  11. Malta
  12. Greece
  13. Latvia
For 2021 it will be:
  1. England (Auto-Qualify)
  2. France
  3. Scotland
  4. Wales
  5. Ireland
  6. Italy
  7. Russia
  8. Serbia
  9. Spain
  10. Greece
  11. Malta
  12. Ukraine
  13. Czech Republic
  14. Germany
  15. Netherlands
So we've grown the pool of eligible nations in Europe by two, adding Czech Republic, Germany & the Netherlands, but we have lost Latvia.

2 nations isn't great progress in 4 years. But 2025 will likely have a bigger jump
 

latingringo101

Juniors
Messages
585
Next steps on road to World Cup 2021 revealed for Europe & Americas

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 follow:

Round One:
France v Wales
Ireland v Scotland

Round Two:
Scotland v Wales
Ireland v France

Round Three:
France v Scotland
Wales v Ireland
 

Springs09

Juniors
Messages
1,903
So there will certainly be one new European team in the World Cup and America only gets 1 spot, with the runners-up joining that qualifying play-off.
 

Robert B

Juniors
Messages
67
Is there going to be an Asia Pacific qualification process for a spot in the world play off? If not, Philippines are currently ranked higher than Cook Islands.
 

IntRLEnthusiast

Juniors
Messages
127
I hope there is some kind of asia/pacific play off, Cook Islands if they have their NRL players surely would win it but to play some games would be good for them and the game in general.
 

Latest posts

Top