Spain have been disqualified for a second Rugby World Cup in a row.
Spain had qualified for the Rugby World Cup in France as the winners of Europe 2. They were set to feature in Pool B along with South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, and Asia/Pacific 1.
However, Spain have been found guilty, by an independent judicial committee appointed by World Rugby, of breaching player eligibility laws by selecting South African prop Gavin van den Berg as a replacement in two Rugby Europe Championship matches against the Netherlands.
The Spaniards claimed 43-0 and 52-7 victories in those matches but have now been deducted 5 league points for both matches and have been fined 25 000 pounds.
They will now be replaced by Romania in Pool B with Portugal's Rugby World Cup hopes have been reignited as they replace in Romania in the Repechage tournament.
Spain's national federation (FER) confirmed the news on Thursday stating that the sanctions was 'very harsh' and that the breach was caused by an alleged forgery of van den Berg's passport.
It was revealed that van den Berg was not eligible to play for Spain having not completed the requirements of three years of consecutive residency.
The prop had returned to South Africa in between domestic seasons in Spain, for a longer period that allowed as he had to remain in Spain for 10 months of a year to qualify.
According to America's Rugby News, the matter was further complicated as the player had been incorrectly cleared by both Spain and World Rugby. However, those clearances were made based on false documentation provided by the player and his club Alcobendas. This led to the FER proposing to World Rugby that the player and club should be sanctioned instead.
This is the second time that Spain have qualified for a Rugby World Cup before being disqualified through ineligible players featuring during the qualification process. During the qualification process for Japan RWC2019, Spain were sanctioned along with Belguim and Romania for the same offence. Spain had fielded players who played for France u20s but were born in Spain.
Spain are yet to feature in a Rugby World Cup since the 1999 Rugby World Cup in England and Scotland.
UPDATE: World Rugby issue decision on behalf of the Independent Judicial Committee
The full statement:
An independent judicial committee considering a potential breach of Regulation 8 (eligibility for a national team) has determined that Spain fielded an ineligible player during two Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification matches and has imposed a 10-point deduction and a financial sanction.
In respect of the sanction, the independent committee, comprising Nigel Hampton QC (Chair), Pamela Woodman and Frank Hadden, imposed the following:
- The deduction of five points for each of the two matches in which the ineligible player was fielded by the Spanish union (10 points in total).
- World Rugby Regulation 8 stipulates mandatory financial penalties for breaches of the regulation. The committee imposed the fixed sanction of £25,000 and noted that a suspended sanction of £50,000 relating to a previous eligibility breach during qualification for Rugby World Cup 2019 would be payable.
Subject to Spain’s right of appeal, the 10-point deduction applied to the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification table means that Romania will qualify as Europe 2 into Pool B replacing Spain, and Portugal will replace Romania in the Final Qualification Tournament in November 2022.
Spain has a right of appeal within 14 days of the date of the full written decision of the committee.
