2019 Rugby World Cup – play-off qualifications

For the 2019 Rugby World Cup, there are multiple play-off matches during the qualification process, all of which dictate which nations will compete in the Repechage.

Format

The first qualification play-off, will be a home and away series between Europe 2 and Oceania 3. Europe 2 will be the winner of Round 5 of the European qualification process, while Oceania 3 will be the third best team of Round 1 of the Oceania qualification process. The winner of this home and away play-off on aggregate, will qualify to the World Cup as the Europe/Oceania play-off winner (or Repechage 1). The loser will gain another chance via the World Repechage.

The second qualification play-off, will be a home and away series between Asia 1 and Oceania 4. Asia 1 will be the winner of Round 3 of the Asian qualification process, while Oceania 4 will be the winner of Round 2 of the Oceania qualification process. The winner of this home and away play-off on aggregate, will qualify for a place in the World Repechage, while the loser misses out on World Cup qualification.

The final qualification play-off, will be the World Repechage, which will contain four teams to make up a Round-robin tournament where each team will play each other once at a neutral venue. The Americas and Africa are guaranteed a repechage place, with the losing team of the Americas qualification round 4 (Americas 3) advancing to the repechage. While the runner-up of the African qualification round 3 (Africa 2) will also gain a place in the repechage process. The final two places will be decided through the above inter-confederation play-offs, with the loser of the Europe/Oceania play-off (Europe 2 or Oceania 3) getting another shot a qualification in the repechage, and the winner of the Asia/Oceania play-off for repechage, advancing to the repechage, with no direct place for an Asian team or the lower ranked teams in Oceania. The winner of the World Repechage, will qualify for the World Cup as the play-off winner (or Repechage 2).

Inter-confederation play-offs

Europe/Oceania play-off

Asia/Oceania play-off for repechage

Repechage

Teams