2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying matches took place from April 2006 to November 2007. Of the ten teams to compete in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, five of them qualified based on their performance in these matches. The other five teams had qualified automatically.
Qualified teams 6 Asian-Pacific teams qualified for the World Cup; 3 qualified automatically, with the top 2 in the Pacific qualifying group also reaching the finals. Samoa finished third in the Pacific qualifying group and earned a qualification spot by winning the repechage. 4 European teams qualified for the World Cup. 2 qualified automatically, with a further 2 finals berths for the winner of each European qualifying group. No teams from the Atlantic qualifying group reached the finals, with the USA losing at the repechage semi-final stage.
Team Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance Host N/A Final 2000 Winners (1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1988, 1992, 1995, 2000) Automatic qualifier N/AChampions 2000 Runners-up (1988, 2000) Automatic qualifier N/ANo 2000 Quarter-finals (2000) Automatic qualifier N/ASemi Final 2000 Runners-up (1975, 1995) Automatic qualifier N/ANo 2000 Runners-up (1954, 1968) Europe Pool A winners 4 November 2007No 2000 Group stage (2000) Europe Pool B winners 2 November 2007Quarter Final 2000 Quarter-finals (2000) Pacific Pool winners 22 October 2006No 2000 Group stage (1995, 2000) Pacific runners-up 7 October 2006Semi Final 2000 Group stage (1995, 2000) Repechage winners 14 November 2007No 2000 Quarter-finals (2000
Europe First round Team Qualification 330010820+886 Second Round 320110250+524Ejected from competition 310268123–552Failed to qualify for World Cup 300342127–850
Second round Group A Team Qualification 21013732+52Qualified for World Cup 21013237–52Intercontinental playoff
Group B Lebanon hosted their home fixtures in England due to the political situation in the Middle East. Team Qualification 422014264786Qualified for World Cup 422010442626Interncontinental playoff 400438178−1400Failed to qualify for World Cup
Notes: Ireland's Chris Bridge kicked a penalty goal to level the scores in the 77th minute after Lebanon's captain Hassan Saleh conceded a penalty for a high tackle. Ireland qualified for the World Cup with a greater points difference than Lebanon, who progressed to the intercontinental repechage.
Speculation of match-fixing In early 2011, Ryan Tandy and his agent Sam Ayoub were charged in relation to alleged spot-fixing offences during a 2010 National Rugby League match, prompting speculation about the legitimacy of Ireland and Lebanon's two draws. The 2006 drawn match included Tandy representing Ireland and Ayoub's son Jai Ayoub representing Lebanon. Neither Tandy or Ayoub played in the 2007 match. A police investigation in Australia was dismissed due to "jurisdictional issues." Ireland coach Andy Kelly said in 2011 that he believes the games were played "openly and honestly," and that it was a coincidence both games were drawn.
Pacific Team Qualification 320110254484Qualified for World Cup 32019862364 32018652344Advances to the repechage round 300324142−1180Failed to qualify for World Cup
Other Originally, the USA, Japan, South Africa and West Indies were going to compete in a four-team tournament at Bernie Robbins Stadium, Atlantic City, from 21–28 October.
However, the West Indies and South Africa withdrew before the draw, and a one-off match was played between Japan and the USA.
Repechage Semi-finals
Final
Therefore, Samoa qualified for the final position at the World Cup to be held in Australia in 2008.
See also Rugby League World Cup 2008 Rugby League World Cup
Notes
References
Sources "World Cup European Preliminary Qualifying Tournament – Euro B", Rugby League European Federation website, retrieved 8 May 2006 "Rugby League World Cup 2008 – European Qualifying Group", Rugby League European Federation website, retrieved 15 May 2006 "Impressive Georgia Outrun Dutch in 2nd Half", Rugby League European Federation website, retrieved 28 May 2006 "World Cup 2008 – European Qualifying Ground", Rugby League European Federation website, retrieved 20 June 2006 "The Road to World Cup 2008", Scotland Rugby League website, retrieved 16 July 2006.