2015 Rugby World Cup – Europe qualification

Format

31 national teams from FIRA–AER (which changed its name to Rugby Europe during the qualifying cycle) entered qualification, and two or three teams could qualify for the 2015 World Cup. The qualification format was the same as that used for 2011 competition. The teams competed in two groups of six teams, three groups of five and one group of four. There were two levels of playoff. The direct qualification to the 2015 Rugby World Cup (Round 5) took place in the 2012–2014 European Nations Cup - Division 1A, with Georgia and Romania qualifying directly to the 2015 Rugby World Cup as Europe 1 and Europe 2.

Each winning team in the 2012-2013 European Nations Cup Division 2 played off in succession, starting with the lowest two divisions. After the 2013–14 season, the winning team from Division 2 (Netherlands) played off against the winner of Division 1B (Germany). Germany won this match and played off against Russia, who finished third in Division 1A. Russia won this match and qualified for the repechage. No team from the 2012–14 3rd division tournament was eligible to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.

Entrants

The 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying teams that competed for the 2015 Rugby World Cup – European qualification. (World rankings, shown in brackets, are to first European qualification match on 6 October 2012)

• (84)
• (62)
• (23)
• (87)
• (79)
• (44)
• (40)
• (61)
• (96)
• (15)
• (31)
• (NR)
• (85)
• (56)
• (72)
• (36)
• (95)
• (45)
• (34)
• (47)
• (93)
• (28)
• (26)
• (18)
• (19)
• (73)
• (81)
• (20)
• (38)
• (52)
• (30)

Qualified nations

• (Automatic qualifier)
• (Automatic qualifier)
• (Europe 1)
• (Automatic qualifier)
• (Automatic qualifier)
• (Europe 2)
• (Automatic qualifier)
• (Automatic qualifier)

Round 1

Round 1A: European Nations Cup Division 2D 2012–13

The winner of Round 1A, Luxembourg, advanced to the Round 1 Final to play the winner of Division 2C, Slovenia. The other four teams were eliminated from Rugby World Cup qualifying.

Round 1B: European Nations Cup Division 2C 2012–13

The winner of Round 1B, Slovenia, advanced to Round 1 Final and will play the winner of Division 2D, Luxembourg. The other three teams were eliminated from Rugby World Cup qualifying.

Round 1 Final

Luxembourg, the winner of Round 1A, defeated Slovenia, the winner of Round 1B, to advance to Round 2 Final to play Israel.

Round 2

Round 2A: European Nations Cup Division 2B 2012–13

The winner of Round 2A, Israel, advanced to Round 2 Final to play the winner of Round 1. The other four teams were eliminated from Rugby World Cup qualifying.

Round 2 Final

Israel, the winner of Round 2A, played the winner of Round 1, Luxembourg, to advance to the Round 3 Final to play Netherlands.

Round 3

Round 3A: European Nations Cup Division 2A 2012–13

The winner of Round 3A, Netherlands, advanced to Round 3 Final to play the winner of Round 2. The other four teams were eliminated from Rugby World Cup qualifying.

Round 3 Final

Netherlands, the winner of Round 3A, played the winner of Round 2, Israel, for the right to advance to Round 4 Final to play the winner of 2012-13 Division 2A, Germany.

Round 4

Round 4A: Division 1B 2012–14

The winner of Division 1B, Germany, advanced to Round 4 Final to play the winner of Round 3. The other five teams were eliminated from Rugby World Cup qualifying.

Round 4 Final

The winner of Round 4A, Germany, defeated Netherlands, the winner of Round 3, for the right to advance to Round 6 Final.

Round 5: European Nations Cup Division 1A 2012–14

The winner of Round 5, Georgia, qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup as Europe 1 and will join New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Namibia in Pool C. The runner-up, Romania, qualified as Europe 2, joining France, Ireland, Italy and Canada in Pool D. Third place, Russia, advanced to Round 6 to play the winner of Round 4 for the opportunity to qualify for the repechage. Fourth through sixth were eliminated from Rugby World Cup qualifying.

Round 6: Repechage playoff

The winning team from Round 4, Germany, advanced to play the third place team from Round 5, Russia. Russia won and advanced to the repechage.

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References

References

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2. "ENC 2D First Leg". FIRA-AER.
3. "Finland 14 - 16 Luxembourg".
4. "Norway 32 - 3 Finland".
5. "Norway 11 - 9 Bosnia & Herz'".
6. "Luxembourg 15 - 8 Norway".
7. "Greece 22 - 17 Bosnia & Herz'".
8. "Greece 11 - 13 Estonia".
9. "Bosnia & Herz' 33 - 23 Luxembourg".
10. "Greece 21 - 14 Norway".
11. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
12. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
13. "ENC 2C First Leg". FIRA-AER.
14. "Hungary 28 - 23 Bulgaria".
15. "Bulgaria 12 - 7 Austria".
16. "Slovenia 8 - 7 Hungary".
17. "Austria 10 - 11 Hungary".
18. "Bulgaria 20 - 14 Slovenia".
19. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
20. "Luxembourg 22 - 10 Slovenia".
21. "ENC 2B First Leg". FIRA-AER.
22. "Denmark 6 - 6 Andorra".
23. "Israel 48 - 22 Serbia".
24. "Andorra 5 - 26 Israel".
25. "Serbia 39 - 21 Latvia".
26. "Latvia 27 - 15 Denmark".
27. "Serbia 23 - 26 Andorra".
28. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
29. "Israel 17 - 15 Latvia".
30. "Denmark 38 - 0 Serbia".
31. "Israel 46 - 3 Denmark".
32. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
33. "ENC 2A First Leg". FIRA-AER.
34. "Croatia 20 - 19 Malta".
35. "Malta 34 - 17 Lithuania".
36. "Switzerland 29 - 20 Croatia".
37. "Lithuania 16 - 24 Netherlands".
38. "Netherlands 24 - 7 Switzerland".
39. "Malta 10 - 19 Switzerland".
40. "Switzerland 37 - 21 Lithuania".
41. "Netherlands 48 - 10 Malta".
42. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
43. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
44. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
45. "Czech Republic 3 - 29 Poland".
46. "Sweden 10 - 22 Ukraine".
47. "Sweden 54 - 6 Moldova".
48. "Germany 46 - 28 Ukraine".
49. "Poland 22 - 13 Germany".
50. "Czech Republic 18 - 22 Sweden".
51. "Germany 32 - 14 Moldova".
52. "Ukraine 42 - 15 Czech Republic".
53. "Czech Republic 8 - 27 Germany".
54. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
55. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
56. "Germany 73 - 17 Sweden".
57. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
58. "Moldova 24 - 20 Poland".
59. "Sweden 19 - 11 Poland".
60. "Poland 30 - 9 Sweden".
61. "Poland 30 - 10 Czech Republic".
62. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
63. "Ukraine 16 - 28 Germany".
64. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
65. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
66. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
67. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
68. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
69. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
70. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
71. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
72. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
73. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
74. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
75. "Netherlands 7 - 17 Germany".
76. "Russia 13 - 9 Spain".
77. "Belgium 13 - 17 Georgia".
78. "Portugal 13 - 19 Romania".
79. "Georgia 25 - 12 Portugal".
80. The appointed referee and assistant referees were unable to make it to Tbilisi in time for kick off, so local officials were used for this match.
81. "Romania 29 - 14 Russia".
82. "Belgium 21 - 21 Spain".
83. "Russia 9 - 23 Georgia".
84. "Portugal 18 - 12 Belgium".
85. (30 March 2013). "Official RWC 2015 Site".
86. "Georgia 61 - 18 Spain".
87. "Belgium 14 - 32 Romania".
88. "Portugal 23 - 31 Russia".
89. "Russia 43 - 32 Belgium".
90. "Romania 9 - 9 Georgia".
91. "Spain 9 - 9 Portugal".
92. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
93. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
94. "Georgia 35 - 0 Belgium".
95. "Portugal 9 - 34 Georgia".
96. "Russia 3 - 34 Romania".
97. "Spain 11 - 6 Belgium".
98. "Romania 32 - 6 Spain".
99. "Georgia 36 - 10 Russia".
100. "Belgium 6 - 19 Portugal".
101. "Spain 17 - 24 Georgia".
102. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
103. "Romania 29 - 10 Belgium".
104. "Official RWC 2015 Site".
105. "Belgium 20 - 34 Russia".
106. "Georgia 22 - 9 Romania".
107. "Official RWC 2015 Site".