World Rugby has announced details of the regional qualification process for Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.
Following the most compelling and competitive Rugby World Cup to date, the qualification process is designed to deliver the top 20 teams in the world to rugby's showcase tournament, while promoting a pathway for all full member unions to qualify.
With 12 teams having secured their place at Japan 2019 courtesy of finishing in the top three of their respective pools, the remaining eight places will be determined by a process of regional and cross‑regional qualifiers which will begin in 2016 and, for the first time, a stand‑alone round‑robin repechage tournament to determine the final qualifier in 2018. All teams will be determined by November 2018.
The 12 automatic qualifiers include the top three teams in each Rugby World Cup 2015 pool - They are New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Ireland, Scotland, France, Wales, Georgia, Japan, England and Italy.
The Vodafone Flying Fijians will have to go through two Oceania Qualifiers from a Pacific Tri‑Nations championship played on a home and away basis over June 2016 and 2017.
Despite not claiming an automatic berth, there is an opportunity for all three Pacific Island nations to qualify for Japan 2019 with a new Pacific Tri‑Nations competition across June 2016 and 2017 delivering two qualifiers and further opportunity via a new Europe/Oceania play‑off.
Additionally, the Oceania Cup winners will play the highest‑ranked Asian Rugby Championship team for a place in the repechage tournament.
Source : world rugby
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