For the final round of the Rugby Union World Cup 1999 , which was held in Wales in October and November , only the top three winners of the 1995 World Cup and the host were automatically eligible to start. The remaining 16 available places in the tournament were filled by the winners of regional qualifying tournaments.
The qualifying tournaments were divided into five continental groups. A total of 65 teams took part, 9 from Africa , 11 from America , 8 from Asia , 30 from Europe and 7 from Oceania .
Qualified teams
* automatically authorized to start
Africa
Africa had a permanent starting place for the finals. In addition, there was the opportunity for a second team to qualify via a barrage. In the group stages there were three points for a win, two for a draw and one for a loss; no bonus points were awarded.
Round 1
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Arabia
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
97:43
|
6th
|
2.
|
Zambia Zambia
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
50:57
|
4th
|
3.
|
Botswana Botswana
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
26:73
|
2
|
Arabia qualified for the second round.
round 2
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Tunisia Tunisia
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
63:17
|
4th
|
2.
|
Arabia
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
30:48
|
4th
|
3.
|
Kenya Kenya
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
42:70
|
4th
|
Tunisia qualified for the third round.
Round 3
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
69:41
|
4th
|
2.
|
Namibia Namibia
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
49:46
|
4th
|
3.
|
Tunisia Tunisia
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
29:60
|
4th
|
Zimbabwe and Namibia qualified for the fourth round.
Round 4
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Namibia Namibia
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
78:32
|
9
|
2.
|
Morocco Morocco
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
29:29
|
7th
|
3.
|
Ivory Coast Ivory Coast
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
55:54
|
5
|
4th
|
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
13:60
|
3
|
Namibia qualified as Africa 1 directly for the World Cup finals. Morocco advanced to the barrage round and played as Africa 2 against the winner of the game between Europe 8 and America 4 for a place in the finals.
America
North and South America together had three fixed starting places available for the final round. In addition, there was the opportunity for a fourth team to qualify via a barrage. In the group stages there were three points for a win, two for a draw and one for a loss; no bonus points were awarded.
Round 1
- Group A
The team from Guyana drawn in this group had decided not to participate.
Trinidad and Tobago qualified for the second round.
- Group B
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Bermuda 1910 Bermuda
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
76: 6
|
6th
|
2.
|
Bahamas Bahamas
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
40:47
|
4th
|
3.
|
Barbados Barbados
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
26:89
|
2
|
Bermuda qualified for the second round.
round 2
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Chile Chile
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
100: 14
|
6th
|
2.
|
Bermuda 1910 Bermuda
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
60:71
|
4th
|
3.
|
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
12:87
|
2
|
Chile qualified for the third round.
Round 3
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Uruguay Uruguay
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
63:17
|
6th
|
2.
|
Chile Chile
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
68:26
|
4th
|
3.
|
Paraguay 1990 Paraguay
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
9:97
|
2
|
Uruguay qualified for the fourth round.
Round 4
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Argentina Argentina
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
161: 52
|
9
|
2.
|
Canada Canada
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
97:83
|
7th
|
3.
|
United States United States
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
59:99
|
5
|
4th
|
Uruguay Uruguay
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
31: 114
|
3
|
Argentina qualified as America 1 , Canada as America 2 and the USA as America 3 directly for the World Cup finals. Uruguay advanced to the barrage round, playing as America 4 against Europe 8 . The winner of this game then played against Africa 2 for a place in the finals.
Asia
Asia had a fixed starting place for the finals. In addition, there was the opportunity for a second team to qualify via a barrage. In the group stages there were three points for a win, two for a draw and one for a loss; no bonus points are awarded.
Round 1
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
48:30
|
6th
|
2.
|
Thailand Thailand
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
31:41
|
4th
|
3.
|
Singapore Singapore
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
26:34
|
2
|
Sri Lanka qualified for the second round.
round 2
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Chinese Taipei Taiwan
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
82:40
|
6th
|
2.
|
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
64:46
|
4th
|
3.
|
Malaysia Malaysia
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
28:88
|
2
|
Taiwan qualified for the third round.
Round 3
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Japan Japan
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
161: 52
|
9
|
2.
|
Korea South South Korea
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
104: 81
|
5
|
3.
|
Chinese Taipei Taiwan
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
57: 227
|
5
|
4th
|
Hong Kong Hong Kong
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
39:88
|
5
|
October 24, 1998
|
Chinese Taipei Taiwan
|
30: 12
|
Hong Kong Hong Kong
|
Singapore
|
|
|
|
October 27, 1998
|
Japan Japan
|
134: 6
|
Chinese Taipei Taiwan
|
Singapore
|
|
|
|
Japan qualified as Asia 1 directly for the World Cup finals. South Korea played as Asia 2 in a barrage against Europe 9 in the semi-finals for a place in the finals.
Europe
Europe had six fixed starting places available for the final round. In addition, two teams had the opportunity to qualify via a barrage. In the group stages there were three points for a win, two for a draw and one for a loss; no bonus points were awarded.
Round 1
- Group A
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Ukraine Ukraine
|
4th
|
0
|
0
|
177: 21
|
12
|
2.
|
Yugoslavia Federal Republic 1992 Yugoslavia
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
18:70
|
8th
|
3.
|
Switzerland Switzerland
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
40:50
|
7th
|
4th
|
Israel Israel
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
46:73
|
7th
|
5.
|
Austria Austria
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
15:82
|
6th
|
Ukraine qualified for the second round.
- Group B
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Croatia Croatia
|
4th
|
0
|
0
|
192: 67
|
12
|
2.
|
Latvia Latvia
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
165: 52
|
10
|
3.
|
Moldova Republic Moldova
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
53:81
|
8th
|
4th
|
Norway Norway
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
42: 125
|
6th
|
5.
|
Bulgaria Bulgaria
|
0
|
0
|
4th
|
44: 171
|
4th
|
May 3, 1997
|
Moldova Republic Moldova
|
31: 7
|
Norway Norway
|
Chișinău
|
|
|
|
Croatia qualified for the second round.
- Group C
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Andorra Andorra
|
4th
|
0
|
0
|
139: 65
|
12
|
2.
|
Sweden Sweden
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
191: 60
|
10
|
3.
|
Hungary Hungary
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
50:79
|
8th
|
4th
|
Lithuania 1989 Lithuania
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
70: 157
|
6th
|
5.
|
Luxembourg Luxembourg
|
0
|
0
|
4th
|
27: 116
|
4th
|
November 2, 1996
|
Andorra Andorra
|
21:20
|
Sweden Sweden
|
Andorra la Vella
|
|
|
|
Andorra qualified for the second round.
round 2
- Group A
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Italy Italy
|
4th
|
0
|
0
|
220: 62
|
12
|
2.
|
Georgia 1990 Georgia
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
74:60
|
10
|
3.
|
Croatia Croatia
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
105: 90
|
8th
|
4th
|
Russia Russia
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
85:92
|
6th
|
5.
|
Denmark Denmark
|
0
|
0
|
4th
|
26: 206
|
4th
|
Italy and Georgia qualified for the third round.
- Group B
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Romania Romania
|
4th
|
0
|
0
|
238: 51
|
12
|
2.
|
Netherlands Netherlands
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
106: 78
|
10
|
3.
|
Ukraine Ukraine
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
97:87
|
8th
|
4th
|
Poland Poland
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
58: 152
|
6th
|
5.
|
Belgium Belgium
|
0
|
0
|
4th
|
49: 180
|
4th
|
Romania and the Netherlands qualified for the third round.
- Group C
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Spain Spain
|
4th
|
0
|
0
|
158: 42
|
12
|
2.
|
Portugal Portugal
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
120: 60
|
10
|
3.
|
Germany Germany
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
102: 82
|
8th
|
4th
|
Czech Republic Czech Republic
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
80: 105
|
6th
|
5.
|
Andorra Andorra
|
0
|
0
|
4th
|
45: 216
|
4th
|
November 8, 1997
|
Andorra Andorra
|
3: 62
|
Spain Spain
|
Andorra la Vella
|
|
|
|
Spain and Portugal qualified for the third round.
Round 3
- Group A
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Ireland Ireland
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
123: 35
|
6th
|
2.
|
Romania Romania
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
62:76
|
4th
|
3.
|
Georgia 1990 Georgia
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
23:97
|
2
|
Ireland and Romania qualified directly for the World Cup finals. Georgia advanced into the barrage.
- Group B
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
England England
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
133: 15
|
6th
|
2.
|
Italy Italy
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
82:30
|
4th
|
3.
|
Netherlands Netherlands
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
7: 177
|
2
|
November 21, 1998
|
England England
|
23:15
|
Italy Italy
|
Huddersfield
|
|
|
|
England and Italy qualified directly for the World Cup finals. The Netherlands advanced into the barrage.
- Group C
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Scotland Scotland
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
170: 14
|
6th
|
2.
|
Spain Spain
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
24: 102
|
4th
|
3.
|
Portugal Portugal
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
28: 106
|
2
|
Scotland and Spain qualified directly for the World Cup finals. Portugal advanced into the barrage.
Oceania
Oceania had three fixed starting places available for the finals. In addition, there was the opportunity for a fourth team to qualify via a barrage. In the group stages there were three points for a win, two for a draw and one for a loss; no bonus points were awarded.
Round 1
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Cook Islands Cook Islands
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
62:19
|
6th
|
2.
|
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
111: 28
|
4th
|
3.
|
Tahiti Tahiti
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
6: 132
|
2
|
The Cook Islands qualified for the second round.
round 2
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Fiji Fiji
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
73:17
|
6th
|
2.
|
Tonga Tonga
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
78:32
|
4th
|
3.
|
Cook Islands Cook Islands
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
19: 121
|
2
|
Fiji and Tonga qualified for the third round.
Round 3
|
country
|
Victories
|
Unent.
|
Ndlg.
|
Result
|
Points
|
1.
|
Australia Australia
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
165: 33
|
9
|
2.
|
Fiji Fiji
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
78:99
|
7th
|
3.
|
Samoa West 1949 Western Samoa
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
59:71
|
5
|
4th
|
Tonga Tonga
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
35: 134
|
3
|
September 26, 1998
|
Fiji Fiji
|
32:15
|
Tonga Tonga
|
Brisbane
|
|
|
|
Australia qualified as Oceania 1 , Fiji as Oceania 2 and Western Samoa as Oceania 3 directly for the World Cup finals. Tonga advanced to the barrage round and played as Oceania 4 against Europe 7 in the semifinals for a place in the finals.
Barrage round
Barrage 1
- Semifinals
Oceania 4 versus Europe 7
Tonga won with an overall result of 64:34.
Europe 9 versus Asia 2
South Korea won with an aggregate score of 108-45.
- final
Oceania 4 versus Asia 2
Tonga won with an aggregate score of 140-41 and qualified for the World Cup finals.
Barrage 2
America 4 versus Europe 8
Uruguay won by a total of 79:33.
America 4 versus Africa 2
Uruguay won with an overall result of 36:24 and qualified for the World Cup finals.
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