The 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying process began on 9 May 2015 with the 2015 European Championship C. In August 2014, it was announced that seven of the eight quarter-finalists at the 2013 tournament would receive automatic qualification. Fourteen teams took part in the qualifying process to fill the remaining seven spots.
Background Eight teams automatically qualified for the World Cup. Seven of the teams which reached the quarter-finals of the 2013 World Cup were granted automatic qualification, along with co-hosts Papua New Guinea.Papua New Guinea to co-host Rugby League World Cup The eighth quarter-finalist, the United States, were denied automatic qualification due to an internal governance dispute and instead forced to enter the qualification process.
Qualified teams RegionTeamQualificationmethodPreviousappearancesPrevious best resultAmericasAmericas winner1 Quarter-finals (2013)Asia-PacificHosts14Champions (1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1985–88, 1989–92, 1995, 2000, 2013)Automatic4 Semi-finals (2008, 2013)Hosts14Champions (2008)Hosts6 Quarter-finals (2000)Automatic4 Quarter-finals (2000, 2013)Asia-Pacific play-off4 Group stages (1995, 2000, 2008, 2013)EuropeAutomatic5 Runners-up (1975, 1995)Automatic14 Runners-up (1954, 1968)Europe play-off 13 Quarter-finals (2000, 2008)Europe repechage1 Group stages (2013)Automatic3 Quarter-finals (2013)Europe play-off 24 Semi-finals (1995, 2000)Middle East-AfricaMiddle East-Africa play-off1 Group stages (2000)
Americas
One team qualified from this region. A three-team round robin tournament was held in Florida in December 2015 to determine the qualifier.
4 December 201520–14Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida8 December 201518–18Spec Martin Stadium, DeLand, Florida12 December 201534–24Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Asia-Pacific Two additional qualifying places were initially allocated to this region. Papua New Guinea were granted automatic qualification in 2015 after being confirmed as co-hosts, leaving one additional team to qualify from this region. A single play-off between Tonga and Cook Islands determined the final qualifier.
Europe Three additional teams qualified from this region. A two-group, round-robin tournament took place in October 2016 to determine the qualifying nations - this was contested by the winners of the 2015 European Championship C tournament, the top three teams from the 2014–15 European Championship B tournament, and seeded nations Wales and Ireland.
First round
First round (cont.)
Second round
The tournament featured two groups of three teams playing in a single round-robin format. The winners of each group qualified for the World Cup, while the runners-up faced each other in a play-off match on 5 November 2016 to determine the final spot. A seeded draw took place to determine the groups on 5 November 2015.
Group A
15 October 201650–0Stebonheath Park, Llanelli22 October 201614–62Makiš Stadium, Belgrade29 October 201614–20 Stadio Brianteo, Monza
Group B
15 October 201640–6Fili Stadium, Moscow22 October 20166–46Polideportivo Quatre Carrares, Valencia29 October 201670–16Carlisle Grounds, Bray
Playoff
Middle East-Africa
One team qualified from this region. A two match series was held between South Africa and Lebanon to determine the qualifier.
25 October 201512–40Bosman Stadium, Brakpan31 October 201516–50Bosman Stadium, Brakpan
References