What Is 2019 Rugby World Cup qualification

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2019 Rugby World Cup qualification process began in 2016 and involved over 90 national teams competing across six World Rugby regions to secure one of 20 tournament spots, with 12 automatic qualifiers from the 2015 edition and 8 through regional and global playoffs.

Key Facts

Qualification began in September 2016 with preliminary regional matches
12 teams qualified automatically by finishing in the top three of their 2015 pools
Eight spots were earned through regional competitions and repechage
Japan qualified automatically as host nation, regardless of performance
The final qualifier match occurred in November 2018 between Canada and Hong Kong

Overview

The 2019 Rugby World Cup qualification process was a multi-year global competition organized by World Rugby to determine which nations would participate in the tournament hosted by Japan. It combined automatic berths based on previous performance with a rigorous regional qualification structure spanning Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

The process ensured broad international representation while maintaining competitive standards. Teams competed over two years through regional championships, cross-regional playoffs, and a repechage tournament to earn one of the coveted spots in the 20-team field.

12 teams qualified automatically by finishing in the top three of their respective pools at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.
Japan, as host nation, was guaranteed a spot in the tournament, regardless of regional qualification results.
Over 90 national teams participated in qualification matches across six World Rugby regions between 2016 and 2018.
The final qualification spot was determined through a four-team repechage tournament held in November 2018 in Marseille, France.
Regional unions like Rugby Americas North and Oceania Rugby organized preliminary rounds starting as early as September 2016.

How It Works

The qualification system combined automatic advancement with regional tournaments, cross-continental playoffs, and final opportunity repechage events to determine the 20 participating teams.

Automatic Qualification: The top three teams from each of the four pools at the 2015 Rugby World Cup earned direct entry. This included powerhouses like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Argentina.
Regional Allocations: World Rugby assigned qualification pathways to each of its six regional associations, ensuring geographic diversity and competitive balance across continents.
Playoff Rounds: Second-tier teams from different regions faced off in cross-continental matches, such as the Americas versus Europe or Oceania versus Asia.
Repechage Tournament: A final four-team round-robin event gave last-chance opportunities to teams like Canada, Hong Kong, Kenya, and Germany in November 2018.
Host Nation Status: Japan qualified automatically as hosts, marking the first time an Asian nation hosted the tournament, though they still competed in qualifiers for ranking purposes.
World Rugby Rankings: Standings influenced seeding in qualification matches and determined which teams advanced through tiebreakers and home advantage.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how qualification pathways compared across major regions:

Region	Teams Participating	Direct Qualifiers	Playoff Teams	Final Qualified Team(s)
Africa	14	1 (South Africa)	2 (Namibia, Kenya)	Namibia
Asia	18	0	1 (Hong Kong)	None (Hong Kong lost repechage)
Europe	22	2 (England, France)	1 (Georgia)	Georgia
Oceania	11	2 (New Zealand, Australia)	1 (Fiji)	Fiji, Tonga
Americas	10	1 (Argentina)	1 (Uruguay)	Uruguay, Canada (repechage)

The table highlights disparities in competitive depth across regions, with Europe and Oceania producing multiple qualifiers, while Asia struggled to break through despite large participation. Regional strength influenced both direct qualification and playoff outcomes, with only the top performers advancing to Japan 2019.

Why It Matters

Understanding the 2019 Rugby World Cup qualification process reveals how global rugby promotes inclusivity while maintaining elite competition standards through structured pathways and fair access.

Smaller nations like Kenya and Germany gained valuable international experience through repechage, improving competitiveness for future cycles.
The process encouraged investment in grassroots rugby across emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and South America.
Automatic qualification rewarded consistent performance, incentivizing teams to perform well in consecutive tournaments.
Host nation status for Japan boosted visibility of rugby in non-traditional markets and inspired regional development programs.
Transparency in qualification rules helped reduce disputes and increased trust in World Rugby’s governance.
Global broadcast of qualifiers expanded the sport’s reach, particularly in markets like the USA and China.

Ultimately, the qualification system balanced tradition with expansion, ensuring the 2019 tournament featured both established powerhouses and determined underdogs on rugby’s biggest stage.