World Rugby confirm details of final RWC2021 qualification comp

World Rugby have confirmed where and when the Final Qualification Tournament for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The tournament will take place at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on the 18th and 24th of February, 2022.

Scotland, Samoa, Colombia, and the winner of the Hong Kong versus Kazakhstan play-off will fight for the final remaining spot at the Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand, which will now take place between October 8 and November 12, 2022.

Guess the Olympic Gold medal hero | Max Whitlock | England Rugby

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The Final Qualification Tournament will take place over two match days in a semi-final-final format. Teams will be seeded based on the World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini as of 20 December 2021, with seed 1 meeting seed 4 and seed 2 meeting seed 3 in the semi-finals.

This is the first time a Final Qualification Tournament has been included in the women’s Rugby World Cup, providing countries with a second road to qualify for RWC 2021, with the winner confirming their place.

Eleven teams have already booked their place at Rugby World Cup 2021, including New Zealand, England, France, Canada, USA, Australia and Wales, who qualified through their final ranking at Ireland 2017, and South Africa, Fiji, Italy and Japan who qualified through their regions.

Rugby World Cup 2021 Tournament Director, Alison Hughes, said: “A first for a women’s edition of a Rugby World Cup the tournament offers teams a second opportunity to qualify for the pinnacle event and we anticipate a thrilling contest between competing teams in Dubai in February.”

Tom Burwell, The Sevens Stadium General Manager, said: “It will be the first time such a competition has taken place in the UAE. With the Emirates Dubai 7s returning over the next two weekends, it’s an exciting time for rugby in the region. We are honoured to be working with World Rugby once more in delivering international rugby. With the winner going onto New Zealand and RWC 2021, we are excited to be part of a nation’s journey to the very top of the women’s game.”