2007 Rugby World Cup – European qualification was a European Nations Cup competition that decided which European teams participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. The group stages counted towards both qualification and the European Nations Cup. Hosts France and other 2003 World Cup quarter finalists England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales qualified automatically.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 4 September 2004 – 25 November 2006 |
| No. of nations | 36 |
← 2003 2011 → | |
Qualification process
editThere were three places available for European teams, and one place in the repechage. The teams were ranked according to their division in the European Nations Cup, taking into account the relegations and promotions at the end of the previous competition. Note that for the 2004/05 season Division 1 did not count towards World Cup qualification. The 2005/06 season decided which round (either 4 or 5) the teams entered. In the group rounds, there were three points awarded for a win, two for a draw, and one for a loss. There were no bonus points awarded.
Round 1
editThe eight teams from divisions 3B (apart from newly relegated from 3A Hungary) and 3C (apart from Azerbaijan and Armenia) played each other in four two-legged playoffs. The winners entered the next round.
Round 2
editThe four Round 1 winners, Hungary, and the fifteen teams from divisions 2A, 2B and 3A were drawn into four groups of five. They played each other once, with the best two teams qualifying for the next round. The third placed teams played in two two-legged playoffs to qualify for the next round.
Round 3
editThe four winners, four runners-up, and two play-off winners from Round 2 were drawn into two groups of five. The best team from each group played each other in a two legged playoff for a place in the next round.
Round 4
editThe bottom three teams from Division 1 2005/06 and the winner of the previous round played two two-legged playoffs to enter the next round.
Round 5
editThe winner of Round 4 Playoff 1, the third placed team from Division 1 2005/06 and Six Nations competitor Italy form Pool A. The winner of Round 4 Playoff 2 and the first and second placed teams from Division 1 2005/06 form Pool B. The top team from each pool qualified for the World Cup as Europe 1 and Europe 2. The second placed teams entered the next round.
Round 6
editThe two second placed teams from Round 5 played a two-legged playoff, with the winner qualifying for the World Cup as Europe 3. The loser entered the repechage as Europe 4.
Round 1
editAndorra, Austria, Bulgaria and Lithuania qualified for round 2.
Andorra won 99–12 on aggregate
The first match was refereed by André Watson. He was called by the International Board, because in this way the first match of qualification the new edition of Rugby World Cup could be refereed by the same judge as the last match (the final) of the Rugby World Cup 2003. Watson had announced his retirement from international rugby only three months before after a match between Australia and Pacific Islands.
Austria won 41–17 on aggregate
Bulgaria won 92–6 on aggregate
Lithuania won 113–7 on aggregate
Round 2
editPool A
editSpain and Croatia qualified for Round 3. Andorra entered the playoffs.
| Place | Nation | Games | Points | Table points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | |||
| 1 |  Spain |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 201 | 55 | +146 | 11 |
| 2 |  Croatia |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 115 | 54 | +61 | 11 |
| 3 |  Andorra |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 88 | 75 | +13 | 8 |
| 4 |  Slovenia |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 58 | 141 | −83 | 6 |
| 5 |  Hungary |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 40 | 177 | −137 | 4 |
Match Schedule
Pool B
editGermany and Moldova qualified for Round 3. Denmark entered the playoffs.
| Place | Nation | Games | Points | Table points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | |||
| 1 |  Germany |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 248 | 27 | +221 | 12 |
| 2 |  Moldova |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100 | 63 | +37 | 8 |
| 3 |  Denmark |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 84 | −51 | 8 |
| 4 |  Austria |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 101 | −56 | 8 |
| 5 |  Luxembourg |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 168 | −148 | 4 |
Match Schedule
Pool C
editBelgium and the Netherlands qualified for Round 3. Sweden entered the playoffs.
| Place | Nation | Games | Points | Table points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | |||
| 1 |  Belgium |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 46 | +49 | 12 |
| 2 |  Netherlands |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 133 | 53 | +80 | 10 |
| 3 |  Sweden |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 76 | 98 | −22 | 8 |
| 4 |  Latvia |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 63 | 103 | −40 | 6 |
| 5 |  Lithuania |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 56 | 123 | −67 | 4 |
Match Schedule
Pool D
editPoland and Serbia and Montenegro qualified for round 3. Malta entered the playoffs.
| Place | Nation | Games | Points | Table points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | |||
| 1 |  Poland |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 125 | 49 | +76 | 12 |
| 2 |  Serbia and Montenegro |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 79 | 52 | +27 | 9 |
| 3 |  Malta |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 66 | 85 | −19 | 8 |
| 4 |  Switzerland |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 77 | 51 | +26 | 7 |
| 5 |  Bulgaria |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 38 | 148 | −110 | 4 |
Match Schedule
Playoffs
editAndorra and Malta qualified for Round 3.
Malta win 31–30 on aggregate
Andorra won 40–34 on aggregate
Round 3
editPool A
editSpain entered playoff.
| Place | Nation | Games | Points | Table points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | |||
| 1 | Spain |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 163 | 32 | +131 | 12 |
| 2 | Moldova |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 87 | 96 | −9 | 10 |
| 3 | Netherlands |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 113 | 74 | +39 | 8 |
| 4 | Poland |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 63 | 131 | −68 | 6 |
| 5 | Andorra |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 123 | −93 | 4 |
Match Schedule
Pool B
editGermany entered playoff.
| Place | Nation | Games | Points | Table points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | |||
| 1 | Germany |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 209 | 30 | +179 | 12 |
| 2 | Belgium |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 101 | 68 | +33 | 10 |
| 3 | Malta |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 85 | −43 | 8 |
| 4 | Croatia |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 76 | 86 | −10 | 6 |
| 5 | Serbia and Montenegro |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 27 | 186 | −159 | 4 |
Match Schedule
Playoff
editSpain qualified for Round 4.
Spain win 42–28 on aggregate
European Nations Cup Division 1 2004/06
editSee 2004–2006_European_Nations_Cup_First_Division
Romania, Georgia, and Portugal qualified for Round 5. Russia, Czech Republic, and Ukraine qualified for Round 4.
| Place | Nation | Games | Points | Table points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | |||
| 1 |  Romania |
10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 389 | 94 | +295 | 26 |
| 2 |  Georgia |
10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 353 | 125 | +228 | 26 |
| 3 |  Portugal |
10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 193 | 183 | +10 | 23 |
| 4 |  Russia |
10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 290 | 202 | +88 | 19 |
| 5 |  Czech Republic |
10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 164 | 306 | −142 | 16 |
| 6 |  Ukraine |
10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 77 | 556 | −479 | 10 |
Round 4 – September 2006
editSpain and Russia qualified for Round 5.
Spain won 79–29 on aggregate
Russia won 62–28 on aggregate
Round 5 – October 2006
editPool A
editItaly qualified for World Cup as Europe 1. Portugal entered Round 6.
| Place | Nation | Games | Points | Table points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | |||
| 1 |  Italy |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 7 | +143 | 6 |
| 2 | Portugal |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 106 | −80 | 4 |
| 3 | Russia |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 93 | −63 | 2 |
- Match Schedule
| 7 October 2006 |
| Italy | 83–0 | Portugal |
| Try: M Bergamasco Bortolami Canavosio Dellape Festuccia Masi (2) Robertson (3) Stanojevic (3) Con: Bortolussi (8) Peens |
| Stadio T.Fattori, L'Aquila Referee: Donal Courtney  [1][2] |
Pool B
editRomania qualified for World Cup as Europe 2. Georgia entered Round 6.
| Place | Nation | Games | Points | Table points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | |||
| 1 | Romania |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 28 | +35 | 6 |
| 2 | Georgia |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 43 | +2 | 4 |
| 3 | Spain |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 80 | −37 | 2 |
- Match Schedule
Round 6 – November 2006
editGeorgia qualified for World Cup as Europe 3. Portugal entered repechage as Europe 4.
Georgia won 28–14 on aggregate
References
edit- ^ "Italy (40) 83 – 0 (0) Portugal (FT)". en.espn.co.uk. 7 October 2006. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ "Donal Courtney Retires As International Referee". www.irishrugby.ie. 26 April 2007. Retrieved 8 February 2018.