Rugby World Cup: Spain lose appeal as disqualification upheld

Adam Kyriacou

World Rugby has confirmed that Spain will not play in the 2023 Rugby World Cup after they lost an appeal against their disqualification.

Spain had been removed from next year’s tournament after fielding an ineligible player during the qualifying stages to reach the global event.

Their 10-point deduction in the Rugby Europe Championship meant they missed out on facing Scotland, Ireland and South Africa in Pool B.

Romania get the nod

Romania took their place as an independent committee judging the case punished Spain after South African Gavin van den Berg featured.

Spain were also hit by a £25,000 fine and following the appeal World Rugby released a statement on behalf of the independent committee.

“Following an appeal lodged by the Federacion Espanola de Rugby (FER) (Spanish Union), an independent appeal committee has upheld the original decision of the independent judicial committee relating to breaches of player eligibility during the European regional Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification process,” it read.

“In accordance with World Rugby regulations, the decision of the independent appeal committee is final and binding with no further right to appeal.”

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