2023 Rugby World Cup – Regional play-off and Final Qualification Tournament

The 2023 Rugby World Cup regional play-off and Final Qualification Tournament were the final two stages of the qualifying process for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. A cross-regional play-off match determined the Asia/Pacific play-off winner berth, after which a global repechage tournament between four teams (Africa 2, Americas 3, Europe 3 and the loser of the Asia/Pacific play-off) decided the twentieth and final team qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.^[1]

Tonga and Portugal secured the last two berths by winning respectively the Asia/Pacific play-off and Final Qualification Tournament.

Format

Asia/Pacific play-off

This match will be a single leg qualification match between Asia 1 (the winner of the Asian qualification process) and Oceania 2 (the winner of Round 3 in the Oceania qualification process). The winner of this play-off qualifies for the World Cup as Asia/Pacific Play-off winner and join Pool B, whilst the loser advances to the Final Qualification Tournament.

Final Qualification Tournament

The Final Qualification Tournament will be contested as a four-team round-robin tournament and hosted at a neutral venue in Dubai, replicating the process first introduced for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The participating teams include the runner-up of the African qualification round 3 (Africa 2), the losing side of the Americas 2 qualifier (Americas 3), the third-ranked side of the Europe qualification (Europe 3), and the loser of the Asia/Oceania play-off (Asia 1 or Oceania 2). The winner will qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and will join Pool C.

Teams

Five teams progressed to the regional play-off and Final Qualification Tournament stages for the final two non-regional seeds in the World Cup. World rankings are as per date progressing to the play-off phase.

Nation	Rank	Progression date	Qualifying status
Regional Qualification play-off
Tonga	16	17 July 2021	Qualified by defeating Hong Kong on 23 July 2022
Final Qualification Tournament
Hong Kong	22	23 July 2022	Eliminated by United States on 12 November 2022
Kenya	33	10 July 2022	Eliminated by Portugal on 12 November 2022
Portugal	20	27 June 2022	Qualified on 18 November 2022
United States	19	16 July 2022	Eliminated by Portugal on 18 November 2022

Asia/Pacific play-off

23 July 2022
17:30 AEST (UTC+10)

Tonga	44–22	Hong Kong
Try: Takulua (3) 15' c, 25' c, 42' m Fisi'ihoi 47' m Veainu 60' c Tuitavuki 62' c Con: Havili (4/6) 16', 27', 61', 63' Pen: Havili (2/2) 11', 35'	Report WR Report	Try: Post 18' m Worley (2) 77' c, 80' c Con: McNeish (2/3) 78', 80' Pen: McNeish (1/1) 30'

Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast, Australia
Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

Team details


FB	15	Telusa Veainu		75'
RW	14	Tima Fainga'anuku
OC	13	Afusipa Taumoepeau
IC	12	Fetuli Paea
LW	11	Anzelo Tuitavuki		70'
FH	10	William Havili		70'
SH	9	Sonatane Takulua (c)		64'
N8	8	Sione Havili Talitui		70'
OF	7	Solomone Funaki		37'	39'
BF	6	Tanginoa Halaifonua
RL	5	Sam Lousi
LL	4	Leva Fifita		71'
TP	3	Ben Tameifuna		62'
HK	2	Siua Maile	29'			53'
LP	1	Siegfried Fisi'ihoi		62'
Replacements:
HK	16	Sam Moli		37'	39'	53'
PR	17	David Lolohea		62'
PR	18	Siate Tokolahi		62'
LK	19	Semisi Paea		71'
FL	20	Lopeti Timani		70'
SH	21	Manu Paea		64'
FH	22	James Faiva		70'
WG	23	Otumaka Mausia		70'
Coach:
Toutai Kefu


FB	15	Nate de Theiry
RW	14	Matt Worley
OC	13	Benjamin Axten-Burrett
IC	12	Tom Hill
LW	11	Guy Spanton	75'
FH	10	Gregor McNeish
SH	9	Jack Combes	62'
N8	8	Joshua Hrstich (c)
OF	7	Luke van der Smit	71'
BF	6	James Sawyer	43'	55'
RL	5	Patrick Jenkinson	75'
LL	4	James Cunningham		55'
TP	3	Faizal Solomona Penesa	64'
HK	2	Alexander Post	55'
LP	1	Callum Smith	64'
Replacements:
HK	16	John McCormick-Houston	55'
PR	17	Ashton Hyde	64'
PR	18	Ian Etheridge	64'
FL	19	Jamie Pincott	43'
LK	20	Kyle Sullivan	75'
FL	21	Gregor Ramage	71'
SH	22	Bryn Phillips	62'
WG	23	Will Panday	75'
Coach:
Lewis Evans

Assistant referees:
Nic Berry (Australia)
Graham Cooper (Australia)
Television match official:
James Leckie (Australia)

Notes:

This was the first meeting between the two sides.

Final Qualification Tournament

Qualified as Final Qualification Tournament winner

Pos.	Nation	Games				Points			Try Bonus	Losing Bonus	Table points
Pos.	Nation	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Diff.	Try Bonus	Losing Bonus	Table points
1	Portugal	3	2	1	0	143	30	+113	2	0	12
2	United States	3	2	1	0	133	37	+96	2	0	12
3	Hong Kong	3	1	0	2	43	109	–66	0	0	4
4	Kenya	3	0	0	3	32	175	–143	0	1	1
Points were awarded to the teams as follows: 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw, no points for a loss 1 bonus point for scoring 4 or more tries (TBP) 1 bonus point for a loss by 7 points or under (LBP)

Fixtures

Round 1

6 November 2022
16:00 GST (UTC+04)

(1 BP) United States	68–14	Kenya
Try: Fawsitt (3) 22' m', 33' c, 48' c Faʻanana-Schultz 40' c Dyer (3) 51' c, 61' c, 64' c Augspurger 59' c Sosene-Feagai 69' c Wilson 76' c Con: Carty (4/5) 33', 40', 49', 53' MacGinty (5/5) 60', 63', 66', 70', 76'	Report	Try: Juma 55' c Weru 78' c Con: Mukidza (2/2) 56', 79'

The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Referee: Tual Trainini (France)

Team details


FB	15	Mitch Wilson
RW	14	Christian Dyer
OC	13	Marcel Brache (c)
IC	12	Paul Lasike		53'
LW	11	Nate Augspurger
FH	10	Luke Carty		59'
SH	9	Ryan Rees		59'
N8	8	Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz		63'
OF	7	Cory Daniel
BF	6	Viliami Helu
RL	5	Cam Dolan		54'
LL	4	Siaosi Mahoni	7'
TP	3	Paul Mullen		58'
HK	2	Dylan Fawsitt		53'
LP	1	Jack Iscaro		53'
Replacements:
HK	16	Mike Sosene-Feagai		53'
PR	17	David Ainuʻu		53'
PR	18	Nathan Sylvia		58'
LK	19	Greg Peterson		54'
FL	20	Moni Tonga’uiha		63'
SH	21	Ruben de Haas		59'
CE	22	Bryce Campbell		59'
FH	23	AJ MacGinty		53'
Coach:
Gary Gold


FB	15	Darwin Mukidza
RW	14	Geofrey Okwach	16'	51'
OC	13	Bryceson Adaka
IC	12	John Okoth
LW	11	Jacob Ojee
FH	10	Geoffrey Ominde		47'
SH	9	Samuel Asati
N8	8	Bethwel Anami		47'
OF	7	Daniel Sikuta (c)		57'
BF	6	George Nyambua
RL	5	Thomas Okeyo		51'
LL	4	Malcolm Onsando
TP	3	Ephraim Oduor		58'
HK	2	Eugene Sifuna		58'
LP	1	Patrick Ouko		51'
Replacements:
HK	16	Teddy Akala		58'
PR	17	Andrew Siminyu		51'
PR	18	Joseph Odero		58'
LK	19	Brian Juma		51'
FL	20	Martin Owilah		57'
SH	21	Brian Tanga		47'
FH	22	Timothy Omela		51'
CE	23	Joshua Weru		47'
Coach:
Paul Odera

Assistant referees:
Damian Schneider (Argentina)
Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Television match official:
Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Notes:

Cory Daniel, Viliami Helu, Jack Iscaro, Ryan Rees, Nathan Sylvia and Mitch Wilson (all United States) made their international debuts.
This was the first meeting between these two nations.

6 November 2022
18:30 GST (UTC+04)

(1 BP) Portugal	42–14	Hong Kong
Try: Madeira 16' c Storti (2) 24' c, 50' c Morais 29' c Marta 43' c Lima 55' c Con: Marques (6/6) 17', 25', 30', 44', 52', 56' Pen: Marques (0/1)	Report	Try: Post 7' c Neville 60' c Con: McNeish (2/2) 8', 61'

The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)

Team details


FB	15	Nuno Sousa Guedes
RW	14	Rodrigo Marta
OC	13	José Lima		70'
IC	12	Tomás Appleton (c)
LW	11	Raffaele Storti		70'
FH	10	Miguel Morais
SH	9	Samuel Marques		63'
N8	8	Rafael Simões		63'
OF	7	David Carvalho		52'
BF	6	João Granate	35'	75'
RL	5	José Madeira
LL	4	Steevy Cerqueira
TP	3	Diogo Hasse Ferreira		64'
HK	2	Mike Tadjer		64'
LP	1	Francisco Fernandes		62'
Replacements:
PR	16	David Costa		64'
HK	17	Duarte Diniz		62'
PR	18	António Costa		64'
LK	19	Duarte Torgal	76'	52'
FL	20	Thibault de Freitas		63'
SH	21	Pedro Lucas		63'
FB	22	Manuel Cardoso Pinto		70'
WG	23	Vincent Pinto		70'
Coach:
Patrice Lagisquet


FB	15	Nathan de Thierry
RW	14	Matt Worley	52'
OC	13	Jack Neville
IC	12	Tom Hill	56'
LW	11	Sean Taylor	58'
FH	10	Gregor McNeish
SH	9	Jamie Lauder	69'
N8	8	Joshua Hrstich (c)	58'
OF	7	James Sawyer
BF	6	James Cunningham
RL	5	Mark Prior
LL	4	Patrick Jenkinson	47'
TP	3	Zac Cinnamond	62'
HK	2	Alexander Post	64'
LP	1	Ben Higgins	56'
Replacements:
HK	16	John McCormick-Houston	56'
PR	17	Ashton Hyde	64'
PR	18	Ian Etheridge	62'
FL	19	Jamie Pincott	58'
LK	20	Luke van der Smit	47'
SH	21	Bryn Phillips	69'
WG	22	Charles Higson-Smith	57'
CE	23	Guy Spanto	58'
Coach:
Lewis Evans

Assistant referees:
Damian Schneider (Argentina)
Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Television match official:
Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Notes:

Sean Taylor (Hong Kong) made his international debut.
This was Portugal's first victory over Hong Kong.
No replacement was issued for João Granate.

Round 2

12 November 2022
16:00 GST (UTC+04)

(1 BP) Portugal	85–0	Kenya
Try: Tadjer (3) 1' c, 7' c, 45' m Cardoso Pinto 16' c Lima 22' c Pinto (2) 32' c, 47' m Appleton (2) 49' c, 60' c de Andrade 53' c Penalty try 69' Bello 72' m Campergue 77' c Con: Marques (7/9) 2', 8', 17', 23', 34', 49', 54' Portela (1/2) 61' Guedes (1/1) 78'	Report

The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

Team details


FB	15	Simão Bento
RW	14	Vincent Pinto
OC	13	José Lima	46'
IC	12	Tomás Appleton (c)
LW	11	Manuel Cardoso Pinto	67'
FH	10	Jerónimo Portela
SH	9	Samuel Marques	59'
N8	8	Thibault de Freitas	57'
OF	7	José Madeira
BF	6	Nicolas Martins
RL	5	José Rebelo de Andrade
LL	4	Steevy Cerqueira	59'
TP	3	António Costa	62'
HK	2	Mike Tadjer	49'
LP	1	David Costa	59'
Replacements:
PR	16	Francisco Fernandes	59'
HK	17	Lionel Campergue	49'
PR	18	Diogo Ferreira	62'
LK	19	Duarte Torgal	59'
FL	20	Antonio Cerejo	57'
SH	21	João Bello	59'
WG	22	Raffaele Storti	46'
FB	23	Nuno Sousa Guedes	67'
Coach:
Patrice Lagisquet


FB	15	Samuel Asati		59'
RW	14	Timothy Omela
OC	13	Bryceson Adaka		62'
IC	12	John Okoth
LW	11	Beldad Ogeta		49'
FH	10	Harmony Wamalwa
SH	9	Brian Tanga
N8	8	Joshua Weru		56'
OF	7	Martin Owilah
BF	6	Thomas Okeyo
RL	5	Brian Juma	29' 42'
LL	4	Malcolm Onsando (c)		49'
TP	3	Ephraim Oduor		49'
HK	2	Teddy Akala		41'
LP	1	Edward Mwaura		42'
Replacements:
HK	16	Eugene Sifuna		41'
PR	17	Andrew Siminyu		42'
PR	18	Ian Masheti		49'
LK	19	Clinton Odhiambo		56'
FL	20	George Nyambua		49'
SH	21	Samson Onsomu		59'
CE	22	Peter Kilonzo		62'
WG	23	Geofrey Okwach	76'	49'
Coach:
Paul Odera

Assistant referees:
Damian Schneider (Argentina)
AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Television match official:
Olly Hodges (Ireland)

12 November 2022
18:30 GST (UTC+04)

(1 BP) United States	49–7	Hong Kong
Try: Faʻanana-Schultz 12' c K. Pifeleti 20' c Augspurger (2) 25' c, 57' c Dolan 36' c Wilson 47' c Tonga’uiha 77' c Con: MacGinty (6/6) 14', 22', 27', 37', 49', 58' Carty (1/1) 78'	Report	Try: Worley 65' c Con: Cumming (1/1) 66'

The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)

Team details


FB	15	Mitch Wilson
RW	14	Christian Dyer
OC	13	Marcel Brache
IC	12	Paul Lasike	59'
LW	11	Nate Augspurger
FH	10	AJ MacGinty (c)	62'
SH	9	Ruben de Haas	64'
N8	8	Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz	50'
OF	7	Cory Daniel
BF	6	Viliami Helu
RL	5	Cam Dolan
LL	4	Greg Peterson	59'
TP	3	Paul Mullen	59'
HK	2	Kapeli Pifeleti	50'
LP	1	David Ainuʻu	50'
Replacements:
HK	16	Dylan Fawsitt	50'
PR	17	Chance Wenglewski	50'
PR	18	Nathan Sylvia	59'
LK	19	Siaosi Mahoni	59'
FL	20	Moni Tonga’uiha	50'
SH	21	Ryan Rees	64'
FH	22	Luke Carty	62'
CE	23	Bryce Campbell	59'
Coach:
Gary Gold


FB	15	Nathan de Thierry
RW	14	Matt Worley
OC	13	Jack Neville
IC	12	Tom Hill	70'
LW	11	Sean Taylor	60'
FH	10	Gregor McNeish	64'
SH	9	Bryn Phillips
N8	8	Luke van der Smit
OF	7	Gregor Ramage	59'
BF	6	Joshua Hrstich (c)
RL	5	James Cunningham
LL	4	Mark Prior	64'
TP	3	Zac Cinnamond	63'
HK	2	Alexander Post	67'
LP	1	Ben Higgins	60'
Replacements:
HK	16	John McCormick-Houston	67'
PR	17	Ashton Hyde	60'
PR	18	Faizal Solomona	63'
FL	19	Jamie Pincott	64'
LK	20	Kyle Sullivan	59'
SH	21	Jamie Lauder	70'
FH	22	Nickolas Cumming	64'
CE	23	Guy Spanton	60'
Coach:
Lewis Evans

Assistant referees:
Damian Schneider (Argentina)
AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Television match official:
Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Notes:

Nickolas Cumming (Hong Kong) made his international debut.

Round 3

18 November 2022
17:00 GST (UTC+04)

Hong Kong	22–18	Kenya (1 BP)
Try: van der Smit 19' c Taylor 45' c Lam 68' m Con: McNeish (2/3) 21', 46' Pen: McNeish (1/1) 44'	Report	Try: Okoth 10' m Ojee 30' c Con: Ominde (1/2) 31' Pen: Ominde (2/3) 35', 42'

The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Team details


FB	15	Nathan de Thierry	39'
RW	14	Matt Worley	4'
OC	13	Jack Neville
IC	12	Tom Hill
LW	11	Sean Taylor
FH	10	Gregor McNeish
SH	9	Bryn Phillips	63'	73'
N8	8	Luke van der Smit		40'
OF	7	Gregor Ramage
BF	6	Joshua Hrstich (c)
RL	5	Kyle Sullivan
LL	4	Mark Prior
TP	3	Zac Cinnamond		68'
HK	2	John McCormick-Houston		64'
LP	1	Ashton Hyde		71'
Replacements:
HK	16	Jak Lam		64'
PR	17	Ben Higgins		71'
PR	18	Keelan Chapman		68'
LK	19	James Cunningham		40'
FL	20	Sam Tsoi
SH	21	Jack Combes		74'
FH	22	Nickolas Cumming
CE	23	Fong Kit Fung
Coach:
Lewis Evans


FB	15	Darwin Mukidza
RW	14	Brian Tanga
OC	13	Bryceson Adaka
IC	12	John Okoth
LW	11	Jacob Ojee
FH	10	Geoffrey Ominde	54'	71'
SH	9	Samuel Asati		75'
N8	8	Bethwel Anami		52'
OF	7	Martin Owilah
BF	6	George Nyambua
RL	5	Brian Juma		66'
LL	4	Malcolm Onsando (c)
TP	3	Ephraim Oduor		70'
HK	2	Eugene Sifuna		64'
LP	1	Patrick Ouko		63'
Replacements:
HK	16	Brian Waraba		64'
PR	17	Andrew Siminyu		63'
PR	18	Joseph Odero		70'
LK	19	Clinton Odhiambo		66'
FL	20	Joshua Weru		52'
SH	21	Geofrey Okwach		71'
FH	22	Timothy Omela
CE	23	Samson Onsomu		75'
Coach:
Paul Odera

Assistant referees:
Damian Schneider (Argentina)
AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Television match official:
Chris Hart (New Zealand)

18 November 2022
19:30 GST (UTC+04)

United States	16–16	Portugal
Try: K. Pifeleti 60' c Con: MacGinty (1/1) 60' Pen: MacGinty (3/4) 3', 22', 40'	Report	Try: Storti 8' c Con: Marques (1/1) 9' Pen: Marques (3/5) 37', 50', 80+2'

The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Team details


FB	15	Mitch Wilson
RW	14	Christian Dyer
OC	13	Bryce Campbell
IC	12	Paul Lasike
LW	11	Nate Augspurger	6'
FH	10	AJ MacGinty (c)
SH	9	Ruben de Haas
N8	8	Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz		76'
OF	7	Cory Daniel
BF	6	Viliami Helu		47'
RL	5	Cam Dolan
LL	4	Greg Peterson
TP	3	Paul Mullen		66'
HK	2	Kapeli Pifeleti		66'
LP	1	David Ainuʻu		79'
Replacements:
HK	16	Mike Sosene-Feagai		66'
PR	17	Jack Iscaro		66'
PR	18	Nathan Sylvia		79'
FL	19	Benjamín Bonasso		47'
FL	20	Moni Tonga’uiha		76'
FH	21	Luke Carty
FB	22	Chris Mattina
CE	23	Tavite Lopeti
Coach:
Gary Gold


FB	15	Nuno Sousa Guedes		78'
RW	14	Raffaele Storti
OC	13	José Lima		21'	60'
IC	12	Tomás Appleton (c)
LW	11	Rodrigo Marta
FH	10	Jerónimo Portela
SH	9	Samuel Marques
N8	8	Thibault de Freitas		66'
OF	7	Rafael Simões
BF	6	João Granate
RL	5	José Madeira
LL	4	Steevy Cerqueira		78'
TP	3	Diogo Ferreira		71'
HK	2	Mike Tadjer		71'
LP	1	Francisco Fernandes	60'
Replacements:
PR	16	David Costa		66'	70'
HK	17	Lionel Campergue		71'
PR	18	António Costa		71'
LK	19	José Rebelo de Andrade		78'
FL	20	Nicolas Martins			70'
SH	21	Pedro Lucas
FB	22	Vincent Pinto		60'
WG	23	Simão Bento		78'
Coach:
Patrice Lagisquet

Assistant referees:
Damian Schneider (Argentina)
AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Television match official:
Chris Hart (New Zealand)

Notes:

José Lima (Portugal) earned his 50th test cap.
This was the first draw between these two sides.
With this result, Portugal qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2007.
With this result, USA miss the World Cup for the first time since 1995.

References

^ rugbyworldcup.com. "QUALIFICATION PROCESS SET FOR RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023".

[1] rugbyworldcup.com. "QUALIFICATION PROCESS SET FOR RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023".

[1]