The Iberian selection obtained its ticket for the next World Cup on March 13, after a victory against Portugal.
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From happiness to doubt. After qualifying for the next World Cup on the pitch, Spain are shaking. World Rugby has opened an investigation for “investigate a potential breach” by Spain of the regulation on the eligibility of players used during the qualifications for the World Cup 2023 in France, indicated in a press release, Monday, March 28, the governing body of world rugby.
“World Rugby has been made aware of a potential breach involving a member of Spain’s senior men’s national team. After conducting an initial investigation, the international federation believes that a formal independent review is warranted.”, explained World Rugby in this press release. The Spanish Rugby Federation cooperated fully throughout the initial investigation, further indicates the body.
In mid-March, Spain became the sixteenth team to qualify for the World Cup in France (from September 8 to October 28, 2023), twenty-three years after their last qualification.
According to local media, pillar Gavin van den Berg, born in South Africa but who has been playing in Spain, at the Alconbendas Rugby club, since 2018, would be targeted. He had been aligned twice against the Netherlands (victories 43-0 in 2020 and 52-7 in 2021), during Tournament B, qualifying for the 2023 World Cup. But he would not have completed the three years without interruption necessary to be eligible, according to World Rugby regulations.
In 2018, Spain, Romania and Belgium were already sanctioned for using ineligible players, allowing Russia to participate in the 2019 World Cup in Japan.