Qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup for North and South America began in June 2021, with seven teams competing for two direct qualification spots into the final tournament and for one place in the Final Qualification Tournament.
For the first time since 2003 the Americas qualification process combined both North and South America to determine who qualifies as Americas. This is in different to past years where Americas 1 was a default winner between a play-off series between Canada and USA.
Format Qualifying began with two elimination matches between the bottom four ranked teams in South Americas; Brazil and Paraguay, and Chile and Colombia. The winners of this round moved on to join Uruguay in Round 2 in the 2021 South American Rugby Championship.
Round 2 was used to decide the winners of the North American region, a Canada vs USA play-off series, and the winners of the South American region, the 2021 Americas Rugby Championship. The winning sides, USA and Uruguay, then progressed to an Americas 1 decider to earn the right to qualify for the World Cup as Americas 1.
The runner-ups of the Regional matches then advanced to an Americas 2 repechage match with the winner of the repechage play-off matches, progressing to an Americas 2 play-off series against the loser of the Americas 1 play-off series.
The winner of this final match qualified as Americas 2, while the loser moved on to the Final Qualification Tournament as Americas 3.
Entrants Seven teams competed during the Americas qualifiers for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The Rugby Americas North entrants were reduced to just the United States and Canada, as holding the RAN Championship in 2020 and 2021 was not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Team World rankings taken prior to the first Americas qualifying match.
Teams in bold have previously competed in a Rugby World Cup.
Nation Rank Began play Qualifying status 9 N/A Qualified with Top 12 finish at 2019 World Cup 26 26 June 2021 Eliminated by Uruguay on 25 July 2021 23 Eliminated by Chile on 9 October 2021 29 3 July 2021 Qualified as Americas 2 on 16 July 2022 33 3 July 2021 Eliminated with game cancellation against Chile on 2 July 2021 46 Eliminated by Brazil on 26 June 2021 16 4 September 2021 Advanced to Final Qualification Tournament as Americas 3 on 16 July 2022 17 17 July 2021 Qualified as Americas 1 on 9 October 2021
Round 1: South American qualifiers Round 1 saw the four bottom-ranked teams in South America play-off for a qualification spot in the South American Championship to advance to Round 3 or 4 to earn the right to qualify as Americas 1 or 2. Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Paraguay were seeded 1–4 (based on their World Rugby Rankings), where seed 1 would face seed 4 and seed 2 would face seed 3. Brazil (26) were seeded as 1, Chile (29) as 2, Colombia (33) as 3, and Paraguay (46) as 4. Brazil and Chile as the higher-ranked teams got home advantage.
The two winners from this round advanced to Round 2.
Game 1
Game 2
Game cancelled on 2 July 2021 due to COVID-19 cases in the Colombian team. Chile progressed to the next round as a result.Chile advance in RWC qualifiers after Colombia match is cancelled
Round 2: Regional Deciders Round 2A: 2021 South American Championship Round 2A saw the South American winner decided and advanced to Round 3 to earn the right to qualify for the World Cup as Americas 1 whilst the runners-up progress to Round 4 for an Americas 2 repechage play-off series to advance to Round 5 to earn the right to compete for a position as Americas 2.
All South American qualifying matches were held in Montevideo due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Advances to Round 3 as South America 1Advances to Round 4 as South America 2
RankTeamGamesPointsBonusPointsTable PointsPlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainst 1 2 2 0 0 51 23 +28 1 9 2 2 1 0 1 33 28 +5 1 5 3 2 0 0 2 26 59 –33 0 0Points were awarded to the teams as follows:Win – 4 pointsDraw – 1 points 4 or more tries – 1 point Loss within 7 points – 1 pointLoss greater than 7 points – 0 points
Round 2B: Canada v United States play-off series Round 2B decided North America 1 and advanced the United States to Round 3 to earn the right to compete for Americas 1. The runner-up (Canada as North America 2) progresses to an Americas 2 Repechage play-off match to face South America 2, Chile to decide who advances to the final stage of the Americas qualification process to earn the right to qualify as Americas 2.
This round saw the United States and Canada face off in a home-and-away play-off series, with the United States winning on aggregate 59–50.
Team details FB 15Cooper Coats RW 14Brock WebsterOC 13Ben LeSageIC 12Spencer JonesLW 11Kainoa LloydFH 10Peter NelsonSH 9 Ross Braude N8 8 Siaki VikilaniOF 7 Matt Heaton BF 6 Lucas Rumball (c)RL 5 Conor Keys LL 4 Corey ThomasTP 3 Matt Tierney HK 2 Andrew Quattrin LP 1 Djustice Sears-Duru Replacements:HK 16Eric Howard PR 17Cole Keith PR 18Tyler Rowland FL 19Mason Flesch FL 20Michael SmithFH 21Robbie PoveySH 22Jason Higgins FB 23Pat Parfrey Coach: Kingsley Jones FB 15Luke Carty RW 14Christian DyerOC 13Marcel BracheIC 12Bryce Campbell (c)LW 11Mika Kruse FH 10Will Magie SH 9 Ruben de HaasN8 8 Cam Dolan OF 7 Jamason Faʻanana-SchultzBF 6 Hanco GermishuysRL 5 Nick Civetta LL 4 Nate BrakeleyTP 3 Paul Mullen HK 2 Dylan Fawsitt LP 1 Chance Wenglewski Replacements:HK 16Kapeli Pifeleti PR 17David Ainu'u PR 18Joe Taufete'e LK 19Siaosi Mahoni FL 20Andrew Guerra SH 21Nate Augspurger CE 22Tavite Lopeti FH 23AJ MacGinty Coach: Gary Gold Man of the Match: Matt Heaton (Canada)
Assistant Referees: Moe Chaudhry (Canada) Robin Kaluzniak (Canada) Television match official: Chris Assmus (Canada) Notes: Mason Flesch, Jason Higgins, Spencer Jones, and Brock Webster (all Canada) and Tavite Lopeti (United States) made their international debuts. Canada defeated the United States for the first time since their 13–11 win in 2013.
Team details FB 15Marcel Brache RW 14Christian Dyer OC 13Tavita LopetiIC 12Bryce CampbellLW 11Ryan MatyasFH 10AJ MacGinty (c)SH 9 Ruben de Haas N8 8 Cam Dolan OF 7 Hanco GermishuysBF 6 Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz RL 5 Nick CivettaLL 4 Nate Brakeley TP 3 Joe Taufete'e HK 2 Kapeli Pifeleti LP 1 David Ainu'u Replacements:HK 16Dylan Fawsitt PR 17Chance Wenglewski PR 18Paul Mullen LK 19Siaosi Mahoni FL 20Andrew Guerra SH 21Nate Augspurger FH 22Will Magie FB 23Mike Dabulas Coach: Gary Gold FB 15Cooper CoatsRW 14Brock WebsterOC 13Ben LeSageIC 12Spencer JonesLW 11Kainoa LloydFH 10Peter Nelson SH 9 Ross Braude N8 8 Siaki Vikilani OF 7 Matt Heaton BF 6 Lucas Rumball (c)RL 5 Conor KeysLL 4 Corey ThomasTP 3 Matt Tierney HK 2 Andrew Quattrin LP 1 Djustice Sears-Duru Replacements:HK 16Eric Howard PR 17Cole Keith PR 18Tyler Rowland LK 19Kyle Baillie FL 20Michael Smith FH 21Robbie Povey SH 22Jason Higgins FB 23Pat ParfreyCoach: Kingsley Jones Assistant Referees: Scott Green (United States) Luke Rogan (United States) Television match official: Derek Summers (United States)
Round 3: Americas 1 decider Round 3 saw Americas 1 decided, where North America 1 faced South America 1 in a home-and-away play-off series to earn the top spot from the Americas region. The runner-up by default got a second chance at qualification by moving to Round 5: Americas 2 play-off. On 9 October 2021, Uruguay qualified as Americas 1, winning the series 50–34 on aggregate.
Team details FB 15Marcel BracheRW 14Christian DyerOC 13Tavita LopetiIC 12Bryce Campbell (c)LW 11Mika Kruse FH 10Will Magie SH 9 Ruben de Haas N8 8 Cam Dolan OF 7 Andrew GuerraBF 6 Hanco GermishuysRL 5 Nick CivettaLL 4 Nate Brakeley TP 3 Joe Taufete'e HK 2 Kapeli Pifeleti LP 1 David Ainu'u Replacements:HK 16Dylan Fawsitt PR 17Matt Harmon PR 18Paul Mullen LK 19Greg Peterson FL 20Moni Tonga’uiha SH 21Nate Augspurger FH 22Luke Carty FB 23Will Hooley Coach: Gary Gold FB 15Felipe Echeverry RW 14Rodrigo Silva OC 13Nicolás FreitasIC 12Andrés Vilaseca (c)LW 11Gastón MieresFH 10Felipe BerchesiSH 9 Santiago Arata N8 8 Manuel Diana OF 7 Santiago CivettaBF 6 Manuel ArdaoRL 5 Manuel LeindekarLL 4 Ignacio Dotti TP 3 Diego Arbelo HK 2 Facundo Gattas LP 1 Mateo Sanguinetti Replacements:HK 16Guillermo Pujadas PR 17Juan Echeverría PR 18Matías Benítez LK 19Diego Magno FL 20Eric Dosantos SH 21Tomás Inciarte WG 22Federico Favaro CE 23Felipe Arcos Perez Coach: Esteban Meneses Assistant Referees: Peter Martin (Ireland) Scott Green (United States) Television match official: Derek Summers (United States) Notes: Moni Tonga’uiha (United States) made his international debut.
Team details FB 15Rodrigo SilvaRW 14Federico FavaroOC 13Nicolás Freitas IC 12Andrés Vilaseca (c)LW 11Gastón MieresFH 10Felipe EcheverrySH 9 Santiago Arata N8 8 Manuel DianaOF 7 Santiago Civetta BF 6 Manuel ArdaoRL 5 Manuel Leindekar LL 4 Ignacio Dotti TP 3 Diego Arbelo HK 2 Facundo Gattas LP 1 Mateo Sanguinetti Replacements:HK 16Guillermo Pujadas PR 17Juan Echeverría PR 18Matías Benítez LK 19Diego Magno FL 20Franco Lamanna FL 21Eric Dosantos SH 22Tomás Inciarte CE 23Felipe Arcos Perez Coach: Esteban Meneses FB 15Marcel Brache RW 14Christian DyerOC 13Bryce Campbell (c)IC 12Tavita LopetiLW 11Mika KruseFH 10Will Magie SH 9 Ruben de Haas N8 8 Cam DolanOF 7 Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz BF 6 Andrew GuerraRL 5 Nick CivettaLL 4 Nate Brakeley TP 3 Joe Taufete'e HK 2 Kapeli Pifeleti LP 1 David Ainu'u Replacements:HK 16Dylan Fawsitt PR 17Matt Harmon PR 18Paul Mullen LK 19Greg Peterson FL 20Benjamín Bonasso SH 21Nate Augspurger FH 22Luke Carty FB 23Will Hooley Coach: Gary Gold Assistant Referees: Tomas Bertazza (Argentina) Ricardo Caua (Brazil) Television match official: Santiago Borsani (Argentina) Notes: Uruguay qualify for the Rugby World Cup as Americas 1 for the first time. This was Uruguay's biggest winning margin over the United States. Benjamín Bonasso (United States) made his international debut.
Round 4: Americas 2 Repechage Round 4 saw the runner-up of Round 2A (South America 2) play-off against the loser of Round 2B (North America 2) in a home and away play-off series to decide who progresses to the Americas 2 qualifier. On 9 October 2021, Chile progressed to the next round, beating Canada 54–46 on aggregate. As a result, Canada failed to reach a Rugby World Cup for the first time in history.
Team details FB 15Cooper CoatsRW 14Brock WebsterOC 13Ben LeSageIC 12Spencer JonesLW 11Kainoa LloydFH 10Peter Nelson SH 9 Ross BraudeN8 8 Siaki VikilaniOF 7 Matt HeatonBF 6 Lucas Rumball (c)RL 5 Kyle Baillie LL 4 Corey ThomasTP 3 Tyler Rowland HK 2 Eric Howard LP 1 Djustice Sears-Duru Replacements:HK 16Andrew Quattrin PR 17Cole Keith PR 18Jake Ilnicki LK 19Conor Keys FL 20Michael SmithSH 21Jason HigginsFH 22Robbie Povey FB 23Pat ParfreyCoach: Kingsley Jones FB 15Santiago VidelaRW 14Nicolás Garafulic OC 13Domingo SaavedraIC 12Matías GarafulicLW 11Franco VelardeFH 10Rodrigo FernándezSH 9 Marcelo Torrealba N8 8 Alfonso EscobarOF 7 Raimundo MartínezBF 6 Martín Sigren (c)RL 5 Javier Eissmann LL 4 Clemente SaavedraTP 3 Matías Dittus HK 2 Augusto Böhme LP 1 Vittorio Lastra Replacements:HK 16Tomás Dussaillant PR 17Javier Carrasco PR 18Salvador Lues LK 19Augusto Sarmiento FL 20Santiago PedrerFL 21Thomas OrchardCE 22Iñaki Ayarza SH 23Nicolás Herreros Coach: Pablo Lemoine Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher (Ireland) Moe Chaudhry (Canada) Television match official: Chris Assmus (Canada)