Paris, April 29: Spain were banned from the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France after being found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in two games in their qualifying group. The decision, which subtracts 10 points from Spain, means the country will not be able to play in the World Cup for the first time since 1999.
A World Rugby-appointed disciplinary panel ruled that South African-born prop Gavin van den Berg played for Spain in qualifying matches against the Netherlands, without the correct residency qualifications.
It is the second time the Spaniards have been found guilty of fielding an ineligible player after they were penalized for the same offense in 2019 World Cup qualifying. The decision, which came late on Thursday, means Romania will now take their place, while Portugal will participate in a four-team playoff.
The Spanish Rugby Federation described the decision as extremely harsh.
“Following the oral hearing held this Thursday 28 April with the independent judicial committee appointed by World Rugby to study the Romanian Rugby Federation’s (FRR) claim regarding the eligibility of Gavin Van den Berg, the highest body in world rugby has decided sanction Spain with 25,000 pounds and deduct five points for each of the two games in which this player was lined up,” the Spanish Rugby Federation said in a statement.
“While waiting for World Rugby to make the ruling official, this decision means disqualification from the 2023 World Cup in France, a competition for which the XV del León had qualified directly by finishing second in the Rugby Europe Championship 2021-2022.
“As this very harsh sanction occurs as a result of an alleged falsification of the aforementioned player’s passport, the Spanish Rugby Federation (FER) continues with the extraordinary disciplinary procedure initiated at the time and will shortly call a press conference to offer all the explanations that are necessary,” the statement said.