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Spain out of the 2023 Rugby World Cup for player eligibility breach

Spain disqualified from the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Photo: Getty Images
  • Spain have been ejected from next year’s World Cup after being found guilty of fielding an ineligible player
  •  Concerns over his eligibility were raised by the Romanian rugby federation
  • It then emerged the South Africa-born prop did not satisfy the residency criteria
  • According to the federation, Alcobendas could be relegated, and all the parties involved in the alleged falsification could face criminal charges

According to the Spanish Federation, Spain has been disqualified from next year’s Rugby World Cup in France after fielding an ineligible player in two matches during the 2021-22 Rugby Europe Championship (FER) and World Rugby.

As a result of Spain’s disqualification, Romania will automatically qualify for the tournament, while Portugal will compete in a playoff for a place in the tournament.

Spain investigated for player aligibility breach. Photo: Planet Rugby

Spain qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1999 after defeating Portugal 33-28 in March to finish second in the Rugby Europe Championship.

It was their second World Cup qualification, but World Rugby, the sport’s governing body, launched an investigation following a complaint filed by Romania, which missed out on automatic qualification after finishing second to Spain.

According to a source close to the FER, the investigation discovered that the date of entry into Spain on Gavin van den Berg’s passport, which is of South African origin, had been falsified to meet eligibility requirements.

Later that day, after meeting with the General Director of Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD), Albert Soler,

The FER announced that it would file a complaint with the Prosecutors Office on Friday seeking an investigation into an “alleged passport forgery,” adding that Alcobendas Rugby is under investigation.

According to Alcobendas, “all those responsible have left the club,” including “members of staff and one player.”

However, the club clarified that the player who had left was not Van den Berg, who had “gone unpunished by World Rugby’s hearing.”

Alcobendas also stated that they planned to state Friday’s FER and CSD news conference.

The FER has also postponed the Spanish Cup final between El Salvador and Alcobendas, which was set to take place on Sunday at Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium.

Spain vs Portugal match. Photo: Planet Rugby

“An extraordinary disciplinary procedure was initiated against the Alcobendas Rugby Club from the moment it was known that there was a possible modification of an official document that granted Gavin van den Berg eligibility status and those allegedly responsible”, FER said in a statement.

According to the federation, Alcobendas may be demoted, and all parties involved in the alleged falsification may face criminal charges.

Spain was fined 25,000 pounds ($31,080) and docked five points for each of Van den Berg’s two games, causing them to miss out on qualification.

“The Spanish Rugby Federation (FER) continues the extraordinary disciplinary procedure initiated at the time and will shortly call a press conference to provide all necessary explanations,” the FER said in a statement.

It is the second time Spain has been denied a World Cup place due to ineligible players.

They were sanctioned with Romania and Belgium before the 2019 tournament for repeatedly using ineligible players in qualifying.

 

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