Route to WC 2015 update

I see more teams have been confirmed to the WC next year.

Europe

Georgia attend again, and Romania have qualified aswell.

Georgia have been drawn against New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and an African qualifier (See Below)

Romania have been drawn alongside France, Ireland, Italy and Canada.

Russia look favorites to qualify through the play off system also.

Africa

The African qualifier will be known by July 5 after a tournament between Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Kenya and Namibia. Id love to see this tournament...apparently rugby is massive in Madagascar! There is a documentary on their team...they play like the Fijians...and Kenya have taken to the 7's game brilliantly...wonder how they're 15's team goes.

Namibia have long been the qualifier in Africa...but that may come under threat as new teams some with much bigger populations take to the game...like Kenya, Morocco etc...

America

United states have qualified after beating Uruguay over two legs and go in to the pool with South Africa, Samoa, Scotland and the Asia 1 qualifier (Probably Japan)

Asia

Japan are unsurprisingly favourites to win the April 26-May 25 Asian Five Nations as top qualifier

Australasia

Fiji play the Cook Islands on June 28.

Final remaining playoffs
Two play-offs will then be contested for the last remaining place at a date to be decided.
Uruguay have one of these playoff spots

Would be great to see some new teams, Madagascar in particular. Getting 40k attendance is not to be sniffed at, I hope the IRB are ploughing some money into the island. Apparently there are 180 clubs in the capital city area alone! Namibia are surely there for the taking eventually, the place only has a population of 2m. Having said that, they only just lost by 1 point to Madagascar away, so you'd fancy them to take the spot this time.

It will be interesting to see how Kenya develop too, their sevens team has done well, but now that its an Olympic sport I wonder if that means the 15 a side team will make little progress.

I've enjoyed the 'minnows' games at previous world cups, Georgia vs Tonga and Canada vs Romania could be interesting and quite possibly much better to watch that some of the big boys!

I agree Bathman, i cant see Namibia being a qualifier for much longer.

Rugby is growing all over...and with Kenya, Madagascar and Morroco being particularly strong at the moment. Other teams will come into it. Imagine if Nigeria took it up seriously...they are built for rugby, likewise Cameroon etc.

I think Georgia and Romania could both cause an upset this WC. It will be interesting to watch.

I just had a look and the Africa qualifying tournament is actually in Madagascar. So with the crowds behind them, who knows, we might see Madagascar vs NZ in a year or so's time! Not sure they would fair much better than Portugal did mind you.

Nigeria could be pretty big, a team of Victor Ubogu's... Such a shame in general about Zim being completely ruined, but with the players throughout the world who could play for them they could give Scotland or Italy a run for their money.

Well yes Zimbabwe used to be a very strong side..and have appeared at the RWC before.

If you think of players with Zimbabwian links - Denton (Scotland), Beast Mtawrriwa and Mutaji (South Africa), David Pocock (Australia), Dave Ewers (England), Takudzwa Ngwenya (USA) etc etc its a bit crazy.

Remember Kenya is currently playing in the Vodacom Cup in South Africa for the preparation of the qualifiers.

Their results thus far
Tusker Simba XV 17 - 10 Eastern Province Kings City Park, Cape Town
Tusker Simba XV 7 - 51 SWD Eagles City Park, Cape Town
Border Bulldogs 18 - 17 Tusker Simba XV Buffalo City Stadium, East London
Tusker Simba XV 19 - 24 Regent Boland Cavaliers City Park, Cape Town
DHL Western Province 65 - 29 Tusker Simba XV DHL Newlands, Cape Town

Mixed results for them thus far, but considering this is their first time in a proper tournament and away from home, they aren't doing too badly.

Interesting Bilts.

Its just nice to see more teams progressing and taking up the sport. They have done very well in 7's but we all know its a very different game.

Would you agree though that Namibia may struggle to keep their status as the main qualifier from Africa in the future?