Rugby World Cup 2019 Qualifying to become Easier for Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Featured
29 October, 2015. The qualification process for the next Rugby World Cup is set to be changed, meaning the Pacific nations who didn't directly qualify at this tournament will have a better chance of playing in Japan 2019.
New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew revealed that there have been a lot of meetings behind the scenes of the tournament to make sure countries like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga don't miss out.
The 2015 tournament has been a financial windfall for World Rugby but costly for Pacific nations. Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have all dropped below 10th in the world rankings and none of them qualify automatically for the next World Cup.
Organisers have moved fast to change the qualifying rules for Oceania - so there's still hope for all three teams. "We made a decision yesterday at World Rugby around qualifying of 2019 which will assist Oceania," Tew said.
"But they are going to have to mark that other countries are moving and moving quickly. It's not easy when players are playing professionally up here. Bit harder when they're so far away and I think that's part of the problem."
Former All Black Frank Bunce began his career with Samoa, playing in their first World Cup appearance in 1991. He welcomes the changes to the qualification rules, saying it's important every nation has something to strive for.
"The cream rises to the top and that's the way it is, but you need to know you've got a chance. However slight it may be, it should still be there," Bunce said. The World Cup in Japan will have a heavy focus on further investment in tier two nations.
"There's a balancing act. The larger countries like ourselves argue that we bring a lot of value to the table and we should be rewarded accordingly," Tew said. The All Blacks are already better off financially from competing in this tournament than the one at home in 2011, which made a $30 million loss.
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