Spain kicked out of 2023 Rugby World Cup after fielding ineligible player

Rugby World Cup hopefuls Spain have been booted out of next year's tournament after they were found guilty of breaching rules on player eligibility.

Specifically, Santiago Santos' side have been sanctioned for playing prop Gavin van den Berg before he qualified to represent his adopted nation through residency. Spain were runners-up in the Rugby Europe Championship to qualify for what would have been just their second Rugby World Cup appearance, having made their debut in 1999.

However, Romania filed an appeal under suspicion their rivals had fielded an ineligible player, which was found to be accurate. As a result, Spain have been fined £25,000 and docked five points per qualification match in which Van den Berg played (10 points total), bumping them down to fourth in the standings.

Jubilant scenes were witnessed in Madrid in March when Los Leones beat Portugal 33-28 to guarantee their spot in France next year. They were set to line up opposite titleholders South Africa, Ireland Scotland and a yet-to-be-determined qualifier in Pool B.

It marks the second time Spain have been penalised for fielding an ineligible player, with a 40-point deduction having also halted their 2019 qualification quest. Alcobendas front-rower Van den Berg was previously cleared to play for his adopted nation, but it's been alleged he used a forged passport.

A statement from Spain's rugby federation read: “After the oral hearing held this Thursday, April 28, with the independent judicial committee appointed by World Rugby to study the claim of the Romanian Rugby Federation (FRR) on the eligibility of Gavin van den Berg, the highest body in world rugby has decided to penalize Spain with £25,000 and deduct five points for each of the two