# 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification

The 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification was the qualifying process which will decide the 8 teams that would join the 8 quarter-finalists from the 2017 World Cup including the hosts England, who received an automatic spot, at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. The process commenced in June 2018, with the commencement of the 2018–19 Rugby League European Championship C tournament, which acted as the first round for European qualification.

## Background

In October 2016, England was announced as the host the tournament, granting them automatic qualification.
In March 2017, the RLIF confirmed that the 8 quarter-finalists from the 2017 World Cup would receive automatic qualification to the 2021 tournament, along with details of how many slots each region will be allocated: "Seven teams will be qualified from Europe, six from the Asia-Pacific, two from the Americas, and one from a play-off series hosted in Middle East/Africa." Because Lebanon gained automatic qualification, a repechage play-off between the 2nd placed Middle East/Africa team (behind Lebanon), 2nd placed Americas team (behind the Americas qualifying team), and the 7th placed Asia-Pacific team (behind the 6 auto qualifiers) will take place instead of qualifying 2 Americas teams.
The RLIF requires participating nations to hold full or affiliate level membership. The Netherlands are the only such nation that opted to not participate.

## Qualified teams

| Team | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Total times qualified | Last time qualified | Current consecutive appearances | Previous best performance |
| England | Hosts | 27 October 2016 | 7 | 2017 | 7 | Runners-up (1975, 1995, 2017) |
| Fiji | 2017 Group D winners | 10 November 2017 | 6 | 2017 | 6 | Semi-finals (2008, 2013, 2017) |
| Tonga | 2017 Group B winners | 11 November 2017 | 6 | 2017 | 6 | Semi-finals (2017) |
| New Zealand | 2017 Group B runners-up | 11 November 2017 | 16 | 2017 | 16 | Winners (2008) |
| Samoa | 2017 Group B third place | 11 November 2017 | 6 | 2017 | 6 | Quarter-finals (2000, 2013, 2017) |
| Australia | 2017 Group A winners | 11 November 2017 | 16 | 2017 | 16 | Winners (11 times) |
| Lebanon | 2017 Group A third place | 11 November 2017 | 3 | 2017 | 2 | Quarter-finals (2017) |
| Papua New Guinea | 2017 Group C winners | 12 November 2017 | 8 | 2017 | 8 | Quarter-finals (2000, 2017) |
| France | Europe second round winners | 11 November 2018 | 16 | 2017 | 16 | Runners-up (1954, 1968) |
| Wales | Europe second round runners-up | 11 November 2018 | 6 | 2017 | 3 | Semi-finals (1995, 2000) |
| Jamaica | Americas Championship winners | 17 November 2018 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
| Ireland | Europe third round Group A winners | 9 November 2019 | 5 | 2017 | 5 | Quarter-finals (2000, 2008) |
| Italy | Europe third round Group A runners-up | 9 November 2019 | 3 | 2017 | 3 | Group stage (2013, 2017) |
| Scotland | Europe third round Group B winners | 9 November 2019 | 5 | 2017 | 5 | Quarter-finals (2013) |
| Greece | Europe third round Group B runners-up | 9 November 2019 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
| Cook Islands | Inter-regional repechage winners | 16 November 2019 | 3 | 2013 | 1 | Group stage (2000, 2013) |

### Notes

* 1 2 3 4 Competed as part of Great Britain in nine previous tournaments, finishing as champions on three occasions (1954, 1960, 1972). The squads largely consisted of English players, but also featured Welsh players in every tournament. Scotland (1954, 1968, 1977, 1989–92) and Ireland (1957) were represented by native-born players in some tournaments.

## Europe

England were the only European team to have been guaranteed qualification as they are hosting the tournament. France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales all failed to reach the quarter finals of the 2017 World Cup. With the World Cup expanding to 16 teams in 2021, one extra European slot was available in comparison to the 2017 tournament.
The qualification structure is as follows:
* First round: 4 teams, who are the top-ranked teams in Europe excluding England, play in round-robin matches for the 2018 European Championship. The winners and runners-up qualify for the World Cup, with third and fourth place advancing to the third round.
* Second round: 6 teams divided into two pools of three teams play round-robin matches with the winners and runners-up of each pool qualifying for the World Cup.

### First round

The 2018 European Championship acted as the first round of European qualification for the 2021 World Cup and automatically qualified 2 teams to the World Cup; France and Wales. The bottom two nations; Ireland and Scotland, became the top seeds in the third round.
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | France | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 106 | 38 | +68 | 6 | Qualification for 2021 Rugby League World Cup |
| 2 | Wales | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 108 | 74 | +34 | 4 | Qualification for 2021 Rugby League World Cup |
| 3 | Ireland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 54 | 74 | −20 | 2 | Advance to Europe Repêchage for 2021 World Cup qualification |
| 4 | Scotland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 32 | 114 | −82 | 0 | Advance to Europe Repêchage for 2021 World Cup qualification |
* 27 October 2018 14:00 IST (UTC+01:00)
| Ireland | 36−10 | Scotland |
| Tries: Higginson (2), Bentley, McCarthy, McMahon, O'Donnell, Ryan Goals: Finn (4/7) | Report | Tries: Glohe, Kavangh Goals: Brierley (1/2) |
* Morton Stadium, Santry Attendance: 200 Referee: Tom Grant (England)
* 27 October 2018 18:00 CEST (UTC+02:00)
| France | 54–18 | Wales |
| Tries: Escaré (2), Marcon (2), Ader, Curran, Gigot, Miloudi, Navarette Goals: Gigot (7/8), Albert (1/1), Curran (1/1) | Report | Tries: Kear, Olds, Ralph Goals: Olds (3/3) |
* Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne Attendance: 4,055 Referee: James Child (England)
* 2 November 2018 19:30 GMT (UTC+00:00)
| Scotland | 12–50 | Wales |
| Tries: Bell, Dixon Goals: Brierley (2/2) | Report | Tries: Williams (3), Jenkins (2), Ralph (2), Butler, Evans Goals: Olds (7/9) |
* Netherdale, Galashiels Attendance: 250 Referee: Ben Casty (France)
* 3 November 2018 14:00 GMT (UTC+00:00)
| Ireland | 10–24 | France |
| Tries: McNally, Ryan Goals: Finn (1/2) | Report | Tries: De Costa (2), Ader, Marcon Goals: Gigot (4/5) |
* Morton Stadium, Santry Attendance: 250 Referee: Scott Mikalauskas (England)
* 10 November 2018 18:00 CET (UTC+01:00)
| France | 28–10 | Scotland |
| Tries: Escaré (2), Fages, Marion Goals: Escaré (6/6) | Report | Tries: Dixon, Robertson Goals: Brierley (0/1), Thomas (1/1) |
* Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne Attendance: 2,854 Referee: Greg Dolan (England)
* 11 November 2018 15:00 GMT (UTC+00:00)
| Wales | 40–8 | Ireland |
| Tries: Bennion, Butler, Evans, Lloyd, Ralph, Williams Goals: Olds (8/10) | Report | Tries: Grix, King Goals: Finn (0/2) |
* Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Attendance: 1,257 Referee: Gareth Hewer (England)

### Second round

The second round of European qualification allowed four of the six teams to advance to the World Cup. It was scheduled for October and November 2019 and consisted of Ireland, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Greece and Italy. The six teams were split into two round-robin pools. The winners and runner-up in each pool qualified for the 2021 World Cup. There was no European qualification to the intercontinental play-off. The qualifiers were Ireland and Italy from Pool A and Scotland and Greece from Pool B.
Pool A
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Ireland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 12 | +55 | 4 | Qualification for 2021 Rugby League World Cup |
| 2 | Italy | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 29 | +9 | 2 | Qualification for 2021 Rugby League World Cup |
| 3 | Spain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 76 | −64 | 0 | |
* 26 October 2019 17:00 CEST (UTC+02:00)
| Spain | 8–42 | Ireland |
| Tries: R. Franco Goals: Pallares (2/2) | Report | Tries: McCarthy (2), Bentley, Keyes, McNally, Podesta, Roberts Goals: Podesta (7/7) |
* Ciutat de l'Esport, Xàtiva Attendance: 1,013 Referee: Geoffrey Poumes (France) Touch judges: Ludovic Bernard (France), Alexandre Guedes (France)
* 2 November 2019 16:00 CET (UTC+01:00)
| Italy | 34–4 | Spain |
| Tries: Passera (2), Campagnolo, King, Santi, Tramontana Goals: Campagnolo (5/7) | Report | Tries: L. Franco Goals: Pallares (0/1) |
* Stadio G. Teghil, Lignano Sabbiadoro Referee: Benjamin Casty (France) Touch judges: Jaroslav Bžoch (Czech Republic), Geoffrey Poumes (France)
* 9 November 2019 19:00 IST (UTC+01:00)
| Ireland | 25–4 | Italy |
| Tries: Moran (2), McNally, King Goals: Podesta (4/4) Drop goals: Keyes | Report | Tries: Tramontana Goals: Campagnolo (0/1) |
* Morton Stadium, Santry Referee: Liam Moore (England) Touch judges: Gareth Jones (England), Andy Smith (England)
Pool B
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Scotland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 128 | 24 | +104 | 4 | Qualification for 2021 Rugby League World Cup |
| 2 | Greece | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 106 | 48 | +58 | 2 | Qualification for 2021 Rugby League World Cup |
| 3 | Serbia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 168 | −162 | 0 | |
* 26 October 2019 15:00 BST (UTC+01:00)
| Scotland | 86–0 | Serbia |
| Tries: Oakes (3), Scott (3), Brierley (2), Alex Walker (2), Glohe, Hellewell, Kavanagh, McLelland, Turland Goals: Brierley (13/15) | Report | |
* Lochinch Sports Pavilion, Glasgow Attendance: 300 Referee: Tom Grant (England) Touch judges: Dean Bowmer (England), Jack Smith (England)
* 1 November 2019 20:20 GMT (UTC+00:00)
| Greece | 24–42 | Scotland |
| Tries: Kambos, Mamouzelos, Tuliatu, Zampetides Goals: Meads (4/4) | Report | Tries: Kavanagh (2), McLelland (2), Brierley, Douglas, Oakes, Scott Goals: Brierley (2/6), Thomas (2/2), Douglas (1/1) |
* New River Stadium, London Attendance: 350 Referee: James Child (England) Touch judges: Peter Brooke (England), Matt Rossleigh (England)
* 9 November 2019 13:00 CET (UTC+01:00)
| Serbia | 6–82 | Greece |
| Tries: Mirčeski Goals: Zogović (1/1) | Report | Tries: Robinson (3), Bosmos (2), Meads (2), Mitsias (2), Constantinou, Dardamanis, Kambos, Magoulias, Mamouzelos, Mougios, G. Tsikrikas Goals: Meads (9) |
* Makiš Stadium, Belgrade Attendance: 180 Referee: Robert Hicks (England) Touch judges: Denys Cherniev (Ukraine), Andrew Pilkington (Spain)

## Americas

The Americas group comprised four teams and was played as a single elimination knock-out tournament. Jamaica won the group beating Canada in the first round and then United States in the final. United States qualified for the intercontinental play-off by finishing as the runner-up of the tournament.
| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| Canada | 8 | | |
| Jamaica | 38 | | |
| Jamaica | 38 | United States | 10 |
| | | Jamaica | 16 |
| United States | 62 | Jamaica | 16 |
| Chile | 0 | | |
* 13 November 2018 17:30 EDT (UTC−04:00)
| Canada | 8–38 | Jamaica |
| Tries: Borggren, McGoff | Report | Tries: B. Jones-Bishop (2), A. Brown, Bryan, Golding, Magrin, Thomas Goals: Coleman (5/7) |
* Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville Referee: Ben Thaler (England)
* 13 November 2018 20:00 EDT (UTC−04:00)
| United States | 62–0 | Chile |
| Tries: Anderson (4), Burroughs (3), Faraimo (2), Offerdahl (2), Donehue, Howard Goals: Faraimo (5/13) | Report | |
* Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville Referee: Geoffrey Poumes (France)
* 17 November 2018 16:00 EDT (UTC−04:00)
| United States | 10–16 | Jamaica |
| Tries: Burroughs, Donehue Goals: Faraimo (1/2) | Report | Tries: Ogden, Farrell Goals: Coleman (4/6) |
* Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville Referee: Ben Thaler (England)

## Inter-regional Repechage

The intercontinental play-off consisted of the Americas championship runner up (United States), 7th highest ranked Asia-Pacific team (Cook Islands), and the 2nd highest ranked Middle East-Africa team (South Africa). Cook Islands played South Africa in a preliminary match, which Cook Islands won. They then defeated the United States in the final play-off match, clinching the final place at the World Cup.
| Play-off qualifier | Play-off qualifier | Play-off | Play-off |
| | | United States | 16 |
| Cook Islands | 66 | Cook Islands | 38 |
| South Africa | 6 | | |
* 21 June 2019 19:00 AEST (UTC+10:00)
| Cook Islands | 66–6 | South Africa |
| Tries: Ulberg (3), Niukore (2), R. Rennie (2), Dargan, E. Noovao, Puna, V. Rennie, Teroi Goals: Marsters (9/12) | | Tries: Turner Goals: Cryer (1/1) |
* Ringrose Park, Sydney Attendance: 2,621 Referee: Peter Gough (Australia) Touch judges: Adam Cassidy (Australia), Darian Furner (Australia) Player of the Match: Vincent Rennie (Cook Islands)
* 16 November 2019 17:00 ET (UTC−04:00)
| United States | 16–38 | Cook Islands |
| Tries: Faraimo, Howard, Shipway Goals: Faraimo (2/3) | Report | Tries: Dargan (2), Arona, Gelling, Glenn, R. Rennie, V. Rennie Goals: Marsters (5/7) |
* Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville Attendance: 150 Referee: Scott Mikalauskas (England) Touch judges: Peter Tapper (Jamaica), Kemoy White (Jamaica)