Qualification details for 2017 RLWC announced

[morningstar]

14 Teams. RLWC13 quarter finalists excluding USA, automatic qualifiers...

http://www.rlif.com/rugby-league-international-news/article/1466/qualification-details-for--rlwc

The route 14 nations will take to compete in the 17th Rugby League World Cup, to be held in Australia and New Zealand in October and November 2017, has been revealed.

Seven nations, who were all quarter finalists in the 2013 tournament – Australia, New Zealand, England, Fiji, France, Samoa and Scotland – have all received an automatic place.

The remaining seven nations will be selected from across four regions; three from Europe, two via Asia Pacific, one from the Americas and another from Middle-East Africa.

All four regions will reveal their qualification programmes by October 2014 and the process will still be open to Affiliate members who gain Full status in the interim.

The nations taking part in the 2017 World Cup will be decided by 1st December 2016.

Commenting on the timetable and process, RLIF chairman Nigel Wood noted: “The 2017 World Cup looks set to be the most geographically diverse in our history.”

“The excitement, on the back of the playing success of the 2013 tournament when the group stages, especially, gave us some wonderful contests and new names and stars to support, is already evident.”

Wood continued; “There is a clamour by existing and aspiring nations to be included and the process is now clear, equitable and gives the RLIF and those competing ample time to build the qualification games into memorable and meaningful events.”

 

[hutch]

So USA miss out on automatic qualification, fair enough given their current domestic problems I guess.

Really happy there is a qualification process for all the other nations though. I think Lebanon will definately make it this time around after all of their heartbeak over the last few years.

 

[warrior poet]

so just a guess... the teams will be (world rankings in brackets)

Australia (1), New Zealand (2), England (3), Fiji (5), France (4), Samoa (7), and Scotland (11)
ireland (10), wales (6), italy (12)
tonga (13), png (8)
usa (9)
lebanon (21)

based on the new world rankings that is teams 1-13 plus lebanon (ranked 21)... what about the teams ranked 14-20, ie;ranked above lebanon, (russia, cooks, canada, serbia, germany, norway & ukraine) why don't they have a chance to qualify just because they are in stronger regions?.

Would be better for the tournament if the 14th spot was decided though a playoff between the next ranked teams... the middle east /africa is not strong enough to warrant having their own spot! It will basically be a game between lebanon (21) and south africa (29). If any of the above teams (based on development) deserve to have a world cup spot it's canada and serbia... neither of which would qualify through their regions but both would probably be stronger than lebanon (excluding heritage players)... just like the last world cup the countries qualifying will not be the strongest, but the countries with the best heritage players!

Maybe it's time to bring back the developing nations world cup?

 

[RedVee]

Yes seems that Lebanon has a great opportunity. But only one out of Canada/US/Jamaica can get through, sets up a tense qualification series!
I am assuming there is no repechage games for 'lucky losers' to fight for a last spot.

 

[biggestbroncosfan]

so just a guess... the teams will be (world rankings in brackets)

Australia (1), New Zealand (2), England (3), Fiji (5), France (4), Samoa (7), and Scotland (11)
ireland (10), wales (6), italy (12)
tonga (13), png (8)
usa (9)
lebanon (21)

based on the new world rankings that is teams 1-13 plus lebanon (ranked 21)... what about the teams ranked 14-20, ie;ranked above lebanon, (russia, cooks, canada, serbia, germany, norway & ukraine) why don't they have a chance to qualify just because they are in stronger regions?.

Would be better for the tournament if the 14th spot was decided though a playoff between the next ranked teams... the middle east /africa is not strong enough to warrant having their own spot! It will basically be a game between lebanon (21) and south africa (29). If any of the above teams (based on development) deserve to have a world cup spot it's canada and serbia... neither of which would qualify through their regions but both would probably be stronger than lebanon (excluding heritage players)... just like the last world cup the countries qualifying will not be the strongest, but the countries with the best heritage players!

Maybe it's time to bring back the developing nations world cup?

I agree there needs to be an Emerging Nations World Cup!

 

[deal.with.it]

I'd be interested to know what "emerging nations" would prefer?
Participation in the emerging nations cup or $50K to go towards domestic development?

Just a hypothetical.

 

[Rodney]

The rankings aren't really a fair reflection of reality.
Lebanon and South Africa are both stronger than Germany and probably Norway, its just that the latter play more games (which is due to the isolation of South Africa and Lebanon).
The qualifiers are supposed to be going ahead in June or July to try and exclude the use of heritage players which makes every pool a lot more open.

 

[roughyedspud]

i see problems with this...what if wales win this years european cup there for gaining entry to the 2016 4nations.....when are they supposed to qualify for the world cup?? especially if theres a GB tour in 2015 which could possibly see any welsh "stars" touring with GB instead of helping wales qualify for the world cup..


hopefully the world cup qualification process will kill any idea that GB can tour...its pointless....have england tour instead

 

[Wilson1]

It's tough on Atlantic teams like Canada/Jamaica. Realistically it will be tough for them to beat the USA but they have no second chance. This is a fantastic chance for Lebanon but I think we need a competitive qualification process.

 

[deal.with.it]

I heard that if Wales, or less likely Ireland, qualify for the 2016 4Nations they will be given WC qualification too.
Makes sense.
This WC quals is much better than anything we've ever had. And announced early. We still have limited resources, so it makes sense to have the quals structured as they are.

 

[deluded pom?]

At least things are out in the open in plenty of time. Forward planning is the way.

 

[langpark]

I really think 16 teams would have been feasible. Add 1 extra spot for Europe, plus one Euro/North America playoff for the 16th spot...

That way the likes of Malta, Russia, Serbia, Greece, Canada and Jamaica would have a chance of qualifying... I don't think it would dilute the quality of the tournament at all. Plus 4 groups of 4 is ideal IMO....

Just a random thought as well: What would be the chances of South Africa now trying to poach a few mid-top Union players temporarily for the WC? They really only have to win one match now (Lebanon) to get in.... I mean sure, it's unethical, but I don't think there are any rules in place preventing this, and it's perhaps no more unethical than the Aussie ring-ins coming in....

 

[Evil Homer]

MENA getting their own qualification spot? Looks like Lebanon finally catch a break after years of bad luck. I wonder if we'll see any other nations emerge to enter that qualification section, or the Asia/Pacific section which at this stage looks like including Tonga, PNG and CI's. Hopefully the whole process involves as many nations as possible.

As the guy above said, the only problem I see with this is too few teams, they could realistically have gone with 16. I would also have liked to see a repechage/play-off between the second North American team and third European team.

 

[paulmac]

I'm conflicted.I like the geographical spread but one thought scares me a bit.What if PNG miss out on qualifying?Surely they won't be hosting games now.Hopefully Lebanon Canada and Serbia can get thru.

 

[mikail-eagle]

So from the Asia/Pacific region, one of either PNG, Tonga & the Cook Islands is going to miss the World Cup.

 

[roughyedspud]

yep

 

[taipan]

The early announcement is a great idea,with plans set in stone.However the mere thought of PNG (where the code is the national game),missing out would look ridiculous.
It perhaps would be like Wales not getting a shoe in at the union WC.

To me the 14 countries is about right for this stage of International development.16 might look good promowise,but out of the number of countries who play a tad too many.

 

[roughyedspud]

id rather we went the way of the last wc and automatically qualified 12 teams,let them play euros,pacifics & 4nations then added 2 or 4 teams via a qualification process....

but hey ho...at least we have a "plan"

 

[Evil Homer]

Why is it 'ridiculous' if they aren't good enough to qualify? Every nation should earn their place. What happened last time was unacceptable and shouldn't ever be repeated.

 

[Bronco Rob]

I'd be interested to know what "emerging nations" would prefer?
Participation in the emerging nations cup or $50K to go towards domestic development?

Just a hypothetical.

Exactly, let's save the money on staging a tournament like this and give the money we save to help domestic development in the fledgling nations to get the nations to a point where they can make an impact on the International stage.

Why is it 'ridiculous' if they aren't good enough to qualify? Every nation should earn their place. What happened last time was unacceptable and shouldn't ever be repeated.

Spot on EH, if PNG are good enough they should qualify like most nations in all other codes. If you spoon feed nations then they will breed apathy.

I would have also liked to see 16 nations compete. It would have been great to see another couple of spots open especially for a repocharge spot, the likes of Jamaica and Canada battling it out with Serbia, Ukraine, Czech Republic etc for a spot. But it does make for interesting viewing coming up, will we see some upsets?