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No shocks as four REC sides qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027
Georgia, Romania, Spain, and Portugal are heading to Australia in 2027, with all four European nations having won their second set of games in the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship, still with one round left to play.
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Lelos emphatically (but not perfectly) peeled the Oranje
After a perfect performance in the first round, Georgia had a more subdued display against the Netherlands, but still did enough to secure a 40-7 victory at Avchala Rugby Stadium.
With Davit Niniashvili back in the starting lineup, the Lelos immediately took control, asserting their dominance through set-piece superiority and strong physicality. By the 10th minute, centre Tornike Kakhoidze crossed the try-line to give the hosts an early lead.
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From the restart, Davit Niniashvili caught everyone off guard, side-stepping a couple of Dutch defenders before setting up scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze for five more points.
Despite building a 14-point lead, Georgia squandered a handful of opportunities to extend the margin and only found the whitewash again just before half-time, through Akaki Tabutsadze’s 44th Test try.
In the second half, the Lelos touched down three more times but lost vice-captain Beka Gorgadze to a red card for a high-tackle offence, leaving referee Benoit Rousselet little option but to send him off.
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The visitors also finished much of the final 40 minutes with 14 men as Tim de Jong and Amir Rademaker were yellow-carded in the 43rd and 54th minute respectively. Still, the Netherlands managed a consolation try, with De Jong himself powering over after a robust drive.
In the end, Georgia secured qualification for their seventh Rugby World Cup and moved up one spot in the World Rugby rankings, surpassing Wales to reach 11th place.
Stejarii outclass Belgium to reach the World Cup
Billed as the weekend’s most eagerly awaited match, Belgium and Romania engaged in a physically intense battle, with the visitors claiming a 31-14 win and booking their Men’s Rugby World Cup place.
In front of a near-capacity crowd at Stade Charles Tondreau in Mons, the Stejarii opened the scoring through a penalty by scrum-half Gabriel Rupanu. Belgium briefly responded when captain Jens Torfs powered over to touch down the game’s first try, following a strong carry.
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However, in that same phase, Belgium lost their only available scrum-half, which proved to be a significant blow.
Trailing by four points, Romania upped the tempo, controlling possession and pinning Belgium back. It took until just before half-time for the Stejarii to break through, with winger Iliesa Tiqe touching down after a well-placed grubber from skipper Marius Simionescu.
The second half saw the visitors increase their intensity, stretching their lead with two more Rupanu penalties. Soon after, a wayward Belgium pass was picked off by Taylor Gontineac, and the AS Béziers-Hérault centre raced clear to score.
Romania then added another converted try and a penalty, while Belgium managed a second try of their own, though it was not enough to change the outcome. David Gérard and his Stejarii now look ahead to another Men’s Rugby World Cup, their ninth since the tournament began.
Spain (finally) qualified for another Men’s Rugby World Cup
It was far from a perfect performance, but Spain did enough to defeat a determined Switzerland 47-13 and secure a place at the Men’s Rugby World Cup, 27 years after their last appearance. Pablo Bouza’s men were made to work harder than expected, with the home side showing real resilience.
The Leones opened the scoring after several attempts, when prop Lucas Santamaría crashed over following a superb break by fly-half Gonzalo Lopéz-Bontempo.
With the conversion added, Switzerland responded through a penalty by Simon Perrod, narrowing Spain’s lead to four. Until half-time, Spain crossed the try-line twice more—Estanislao Bay and Martiniano Cian both dotting down—while the Edelweiss slotted another three points.
Shortly after the restart, Spain struck again, as Aviron Bayonnais’ Manex Ariceta touched down within three minutes of the second half resuming. Switzerland, however, weren’t idle, scoring their first-ever Men’s Rugby Europe Championship try through hooker Tom Nublat after a driving maul.
Conceding that try seemed to spur Spain on, prompting a more conservative approach and extended periods of possession. They went on to secure three more tries, closing out the match decisively.
After missing out on the 2019 and 2023 editions due to eligibility issues, Spain will at last return to the pinnacle of the men’s game.
Lobos book tickets to Australia 2027
Following their impressive showing in 2023, Portugal will have another chance to shine on the global stage after beating Germany 56-14 to seal their spot at the next Men’s Rugby World Cup.
Simon Mannix’s team seized control from the opening kick-off, pinning Germany deep in their own half. The hosts’ first try came eight minutes in, with scrum-half Hugo Camacho crossing for the score. He claimed a second shortly after, set up by centre José Lima’s strong carry.
The Portuguese ran in three more tries before the break, including a brace from Montpellier’s Nicolás Martins and a corner finish from flanker Diego Pinheiro-Ruiz—his first Test try.
With the result virtually in hand, Portugal tallied three more converted tries in the second half, while Germany crossed twice through individual efforts by Luis Ball and Felix Lammers.
This victory ensures Portugal’s third overall qualification for the Men’s Rugby World Cup—back-to-back appearances, marking another milestone for the rising force of Portuguese rugby.
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