Spain appeal against 2023 Rugby World Cup exclusion

Spain have lodged an appeal against the decision to exclude the team from next year's Rugby World Cup, governing body World Rugby has confirmed.

The Spanish, who had been due to face Ireland in the opening game of Pool B in Bordeaux on 9 September 2023, were removed from the tournament last month for fielding an ineligible player - South African prop Gavin van den Berg - during qualifying.

Spain shared a similar fate in the build-up to the last World Cup and are blaming the mistake on a forgery of Van den Berg's passport.

The independent committee judging the case deducted five points from each match in which Van den Berg appeared, as well as a £25,000 fine.

The resulting points deductions meant Romania instead qualified in their place to play in Ireland's pool.

But the Spanish union has now appealed the sanction.

"Formal submissions by the union have been received following a short extension of the appeal deadline," said World Rugby in a statement.

"An independent appeal committee comprising Wang Shao Ing (chair), Adam Casselden SC and John Langford will consider the appeal with the hearing date to be confirmed in due course."

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