# 2007 Rugby World Cup – Europe qualification

2007 Rugby World Cup – European qualification was a European Nations Cup competition that decided which European teams participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. The group stages counted towards both qualification and the European Nations Cup. Hosts France and other 2003 World Cup quarter finalists England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales qualified automatically.

## Qualification process

There were three places available for European teams, and one place in the repechage. The teams were ranked according to their division in the European Nations Cup, taking into account the relegations and promotions at the end of the previous competition. Note that for the 2004/05 season Division 1 did not count towards World Cup qualification. The 2005/06 season decided which round (either 4 or 5) the teams entered. In the group rounds, there were three points awarded for a win, two for a draw, and one for a loss. There were no bonus points awarded.

### Round 1

The eight teams from divisions 3B (apart from newly relegated from 3A Hungary) and 3C (apart from Azerbaijan and Armenia) played each other in four two-legged playoffs. The winners entered the next round.

### Round 2

The four Round 1 winners, Hungary, and the fifteen teams from divisions 2A, 2B and 3A were drawn into four groups of five. They played each other once, with the best two teams qualifying for the next round. The third placed teams played in two two-legged playoffs to qualify for the next round.

### Round 3

The four winners, four runners-up, and two play-off winners from Round 2 were drawn into two groups of five. The best team from each group played each other in a two legged playoff for a place in the next round.

### Round 4

The bottom three teams from Division 1 2005/06 and the winner of the previous round played two two-legged playoffs to enter the next round.

### Round 5

The winner of Round 4 Playoff 1, the third placed team from Division 1 2005/06 and Six Nations competitor Italy form Pool A. The winner of Round 4 Playoff 2 and the first and second placed teams from Division 1 2005/06 form Pool B. The top team from each pool qualified for the World Cup as Europe 1 and Europe 2. The second placed teams entered the next round.

### Round 6

The two second placed teams from Round 5 played a two-legged playoff, with the winner qualifying for the World Cup as Europe 3. The loser entered the repechage as Europe 4.

## Round 1

Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria and Lithuania qualified for round 2.
* 4 September 2004
| Andorra | 76–3 | Norway |
* Andorra La Vella Referee: André Watson
* 18 September 2004
| Norway | 9–23 | Andorra |
* Bergen
Andorra won 99–12 on aggregate
The first match was refereed by André Watson. He was called by the International Board, because in this way the first match of qualification the new edition of Rugby World Cup could be refereed by the same judge as the last match (the final) of the Rugby World Cup 2003. Watson had announced his retirement from international rugby only three months before after a match between Australia and Pacific Islands.
* 25 September 2004
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10–29 | Austria |
* Zenica
* 16 October 2004
| Austria | 12–7 | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
* Vienna
Austria won 41–17 on aggregate
* 18 September 2004
| Finland | 3–42 | Bulgaria |
* Helsinki
* 30 October 2004
| Bulgaria | 50–3 | Finland |
* Sofia
Bulgaria won 92–6 on aggregate
* 16 October 2004
| Israel | 0–53 | Lithuania |
* Raanana
* 23 October 2004
| Lithuania | 60–7 | Israel |
* Vilnius
Lithuania won 113–7 on aggregate

## Round 2
### Pool A

Spain and Croatia qualified for Round 3. Andorra entered the playoffs.
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
| 1 | Spain | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 201 | 55 | +146 | 11 |
| 2 | Croatia | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 115 | 54 | +61 | 11 |
| 3 | Andorra | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 88 | 75 | +13 | 8 |
| 4 | Slovenia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 58 | 141 | −83 | 6 |
| 5 | Hungary | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 40 | 177 | −137 | 4 |
Match Schedule
* 23 October 2004
| Hungary | 16–29 | Andorra |
* Stardom
* 23 October 2004
| Croatia | 27–6 | Slovenia |
* Split
* 6 November 2004
| Slovenia | 41–0 | Hungary |
* Ljubljana
* 21 November 2004
| Croatia | 18–7 | Andorra |
* Sisak
* 21 November 2004
| Spain | 63–9 | Hungary |
* Madrid
* 13 February 2005
| Andorra | 14–36 | Spain |
* Andorra La Vella
* 27 March 2005
| Slovenia | 6–76 | Spain |
* Ljubljana
* 10 April 2005
| Spain | 26–26 | Croatia |
* Sevilla
* 23 April 2005
| Hungary | 15–44 | Croatia |
* Budapest
* 30 April 2005
| Andorra | 38–5 | Slovenia |
* Andorra La Vella

### Pool B

Germany and Moldova qualified for Round 3. Denmark entered the playoffs.
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
| 1 | Germany | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 248 | 27 | +221 | 12 |
| 2 | Moldova | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100 | 63 | +37 | 8 |
| 3 | Denmark | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 84 | −51 | 8 |
| 4 | Austria | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 101 | −56 | 8 |
| 5 | Luxembourg | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 168 | −148 | 4 |
Match Schedule
* 30 October 2004
| Denmark | 11–20 | Moldova |
* Odense
* 13 November 2004
| Moldova | 18–27 | Germany |
* Chișinău
* 13 November 2004
| Luxembourg | 5–6 | Denmark |
* Cessange
* 27 November 2004
| Germany | 96–0 | Luxembourg |
* Heidelberg
* 2 April 2005
| Germany | 56–0 | Denmark |
* Heidelberg
* 9 April 2005
| Denmark | 16–3 | Austria |
* Fredericia
* 16 April 2005
| Moldova | 55–6 | Luxembourg |
* Chișinău
* 23 April 2005
| Austria | 9–69 | Germany |
* Vienna
* 30 April 2005
| Austria | 19–7 | Moldova |
* Vienna
* 7 May 2005
| Luxembourg | 9–11 | Austria |
* Cessange

### Pool C

Belgium and the Netherlands qualified for Round 3. Sweden entered the playoffs.
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
| 1 | Belgium | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 46 | +49 | 12 |
| 2 | Netherlands | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 133 | 53 | +80 | 10 |
| 3 | Sweden | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 76 | 98 | −22 | 8 |
| 4 | Latvia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 63 | 103 | −40 | 6 |
| 5 | Lithuania | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 56 | 123 | −67 | 4 |
Match Schedule
* 23 October 2004
| Latvia | 18–20 | Sweden |
* Valmiera
* 30 October 2004
| Belgium | 23–16 | Latvia |
* Boitsfort
* 31 October 2004
| Sweden | 32–20 | Lithuania |
* Helsingborg
* 9 April 2005
| Lithuania | 13–21 | Belgium |
* Jurbarkas
* 16 April 2005
| Belgium | 15–10 | Netherlands |
* Vise
* 23 April 2005
| Netherlands | 24–17 | Sweden |
* Amsterdam
* 30 April 2005
| Sweden | 7–36 | Belgium |
* Stockholm
* 30 April 2005
| Latvia | 19–12 | Lithuania |
* Riga
* 7 May 2005
| Netherlands | 48–10 | Latvia |
* Amsterdam
* 14 May 2005
| Lithuania | 11–51 | Netherlands |
* Klaipėda

### Pool D

Poland and Serbia and Montenegro qualified for round 3. Malta entered the playoffs.
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
| 1 | Poland | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 125 | 49 | +76 | 12 |
| 2 | Serbia and Montenegro | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 79 | 52 | +27 | 9 |
| 3 | Malta | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 66 | 85 | −19 | 8 |
| 4 | Switzerland | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 77 | 51 | +26 | 7 |
| 5 | Bulgaria | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 38 | 148 | −110 | 4 |
Match Schedule
* 2 October 2004
| Poland | 20–15 | Switzerland |
* Gdynia
* 16 October 2004
| Switzerland | 8–17 | Malta |
* Avusy
* 6 November 2004
| Malta | 13–38 | Poland |
* Marsa
* 13 November 2004
| Serbia and Montenegro | 33–10 | Bulgaria |
* Belgrade
* 12 March 2005
| Switzerland | 43–3 | Bulgaria |
* Geneva
* 19 March 2005
| Serbia and Montenegro | 11–11 | Switzerland |
* Belgrade
* 9 April 2005
| Malta | 13–24 | Serbia and Montenegro |
* Marsa
* 16 April 2005
| Bulgaria | 15–23 | Malta |
* Sofia
* 23 April 2005
| Bulgaria | 10–49 | Poland |
* Sofia
* 7 May 2005
| Poland | 18–11 | Serbia and Montenegro |
* Łódź

### Playoffs

Andorra and Malta qualified for Round 3.
* 21 May 2005
| Denmark | 12–3 | Malta |
* Copenhagen
* 29 May 2005
| Malta | 28–18 | Denmark |
* Marsa
Malta win 31–30 on aggregate
* 28 May 2005
| Andorra | 30–20 | Sweden |
* Foix (France)
* 4 June 2005
| Sweden | 14–10 | Andorra |
* Vanersborg
Andorra won 40–34 on aggregate

## Round 3
### Pool A

Spain entered playoff.
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
| 1 | Spain | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 163 | 32 | +131 | 12 |
| 2 | Moldova | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 87 | 96 | −9 | 10 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 113 | 74 | +39 | 8 |
| 4 | Poland | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 63 | 131 | −68 | 6 |
| 5 | Andorra | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 123 | −93 | 4 |
Match Schedule
* 29 October 2005
| Poland | 18–14 | Andorra |
* Sopot
* 12 November 2005
| Spain | 68–12 | Poland |
* Madrid
* 12 November 2005
| Moldova | 30–27 | Netherlands |
* Chișinău
* 19 November 2005
| Moldova | 7–40 | Spain |
* Chișinău
* 26 November 2005
| Netherlands | 51–0 | Andorra |
* Amsterdam
* 11 March 2006
| Andorra | 0–31 | Spain |
* Andorra La Vella
* 8 April 2006
| Poland | 13–27 | Moldova |
* Sochaczew
* 22 April 2006
| Netherlands | 22–20 | Poland |
* Amsterdam
* 29 April 2006
| Spain | 24–13 | Netherlands |
* Madrid
* 6 May 2006
| Andorra | 16–23 | Moldova |
* Andorra La Vella

### Pool B

Germany entered playoff.
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
| 1 | Germany | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 209 | 30 | +179 | 12 |
| 2 | Belgium | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 101 | 68 | +33 | 10 |
| 3 | Malta | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 85 | −43 | 8 |
| 4 | Croatia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 76 | 86 | −10 | 6 |
| 5 | Serbia and Montenegro | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 27 | 186 | −159 | 4 |
Match Schedule
* 8 October 2005
| Croatia | 26–9 | Serbia and Montenegro |
* Split
* 29 October 2005
| Belgium | 26–20 | Croatia |
* Brussels
* 29 October 2005
| Malta | 0–43 | Germany |
* Marsa
* 5 November 2005
| Serbia and Montenegro | 3–16 | Malta |
* Pancevo
* 11 November 2005
| Germany | 108–0 | Serbia and Montenegro |
* Heidelberg
* 8 April 2006
| Serbia and Montenegro | 15–36 | Belgium |
* Belgrade
* 15 April 2006
| Malta | 26–15 | Croatia |
* Marsa
* 22 April 2006
| Croatia | 15–25 | Germany |
* Zagreb
* 22 April 2006
| Belgium | 24–0 | Malta |
* Brussels
* 29 April 2006
| Germany | 33–15 | Belgium |
* Hanover

### Playoff

Spain qualified for Round 4.
* 14 May 2006
| Germany | 18–6 | Spain |
* Heidelberg
* 28 May 2006
| Spain | 36–10 | Germany |
* Madrid
Spain win 42–28 on aggregate

## European Nations Cup Division 1 2004/06

See 2004–2006_European_Nations_Cup_First_Division
Romania, Georgia, and Portugal qualified for Round 5. Russia, Czech Republic, and Ukraine qualified for Round 4.
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
| 1 | Romania | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 389 | 94 | +295 | 26 |
| 2 | Georgia | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 353 | 125 | +228 | 26 |
| 3 | Portugal | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 193 | 183 | +10 | 23 |
| 4 | Russia | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 290 | 202 | +88 | 19 |
| 5 | Czech Republic | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 164 | 306 | −142 | 16 |
| 6 | Ukraine | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 77 | 556 | −479 | 10 |

## Round 4 – September 2006

Spain and Russia qualified for Round 5.
* 16 September 2006
| Czech Republic | 12–33 | Spain |
* Říčany
* 30 September 2006
| Spain | 46–17 | Czech Republic |
* Madrid
Spain won 79–29 on aggregate
* 23 September 2006
| Ukraine | 11–25 | Russia |
* Odesa
* 30 September 2006
| Russia | 37–17 | Ukraine |
* Moscow
Russia won 62–28 on aggregate

## Round 5 – October 2006
### Pool A

Italy qualified for World Cup as Europe 1. Portugal entered Round 6.
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
| 1 | Italy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 7 | +143 | 6 |
| 2 | Portugal | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 106 | −80 | 4 |
| 3 | Russia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 93 | −63 | 2 |

#### Match Schedule

* 7 October 2006
| Italy | 83–0 | Portugal |
| Try: M Bergamasco Bortolami Canavosio Dellape Festuccia Masi (2) Robertson (3) Stanojevic (3) Con: Bortolussi (8) Peens | | |
* Stadio T.Fattori, L'Aquila Referee: Donal Courtney
* 14 October 2006
| Russia | 7–67 | Italy |
* Moscow
* 28 October 2006
| Portugal | 26–23 | Russia |
* Lisbon

### Pool B

Romania qualified for World Cup as Europe 2. Georgia entered Round 6.
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
| 1 | Romania | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 28 | +35 | 6 |
| 2 | Georgia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 43 | +2 | 4 |
| 3 | Spain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 80 | −37 | 2 |

#### Match Schedule

* 7 October 2006
| Romania | 20–8 | Georgia |
* Bucharest
* 14 October 2006
| Spain | 20–43 | Romania |
* Madrid
* 28 October 2006
| Georgia | 37–23 | Spain |
* Tbilisi

## Round 6 – November 2006

Georgia qualified for World Cup as Europe 3. Portugal entered repechage as Europe 4.
* 11 November 2006
| Georgia | 17–3 | Portugal |
* Tbilisi
* 25 November 2006
| Portugal | 11–11 | Georgia |
* Lisbon
Georgia won 28–14 on aggregate