2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
International football competition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Of the fourteen teams that would participate in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, only two were not automatic inclusions, so must win qualifying matches to enter the tournament, which was held in Wales and England.[1] Originally around twenty teams were to be involved in qualification for the tournament,[2] but this was eventually fixed at nineteen.
Qualified teams
- Pacific
Seven teams from the Pacific qualified for the World Cup. All of these teams were granted automatic qualification.
Australia (automatic qualifier)
New Zealand (automatic qualifier)
Papua New Guinea (automatic qualifier)
Tonga (automatic qualifier)
Fiji (automatic qualifier)
Samoa (automatic qualifier)
Cook Islands (automatic qualifier)
- Europe
Six teams from Europe qualified; five teams automatically, with the sixth going to Italy, the winner of the European qualifying group.
England (automatic qualifier and co-host)
Wales (automatic qualifier and co-host)
France (automatic qualifier)
Ireland (automatic qualifier)
Scotland (automatic qualifier)
Italy (Winner of the European qualifying group)
- Atlantic
One team from the Atlantic region qualified for the World Cup.
United States (Winner of the Atlantic qualifying group)
Atlantic qualifying
The Atlantic qualifying group involved the USA, Jamaica and South Africa. The Atlantic qualifiers were held at Campbell's Field, New Jersey.[3] USA won the group and qualified for the World Cup.[4][5]
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | +/− | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 United States |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 8 | +72 | 0 | 4 |
 Jamaica |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 46 | −22 | 0 | 2 |
 South Africa |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 60 | −50 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 October 2011 | United States | 40–4 | South Africa | Campbell's Field, New Jersey |
| 19 October 2011 | South Africa | 6–20 | Jamaica | Campbell's Field, New Jersey |
| 23 October 2011 | Jamaica | 4–40 | United States | Campbell's Field, New Jersey |
European qualifying
The European qualifying group involved Russia, Italy, Serbia and Lebanon.[6] Both Italy and Lebanon remained unbeaten, recording two wins and a draw each. However, Italy topped the group as a result of points difference and therefore qualified for the World Cup.[4]
| 15 October 2011 | Italy  | 92–6 |  Russia | Stadio Plebiscito, Padova |
| 16 October 2011 | Lebanon  | 96–4 |  Serbia | International Olympic Stadium, Tripoli |
| 22 October 2011 | Russia | 0–32 | Lebanon | Vereya Stadium, Vereya |
| 23 October 2011 | Serbia | 6–52 | Italy | Makiš Stadium, Belgrade |
| 29 October 2011 | Serbia | 28–36 | Russia | Makiš Stadium, Belgrade |
| 29 October 2011 | Italy | 19–19 | Lebanon | Makiš Stadium, Belgrade |