Spain finishes long wait to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023

Spain secured a place at the Rugby World Cup 2023 on Sunday with a 33-28 win over Portugal in Madrid. The win at the Estadio Nacional Universidad sees Spain finish second in the combined 2021 and 2022 European Rugby Championships table, regardless of the outcome of next Sunday's final with Georgia. Rugby Fans can buy Rugby World Cup 2023 Tickets from our website.

Spain to qualify for the Rugby World Cup 2023

It was a stunning turnaround for Los Leones, who started their RWC 2023 qualifying campaign with three consecutive defeats at the start of last season's Rugby European Championship.

Santiago Santos' squad has won six consecutive championship matches and next weekend's game against Georgia in Tbilisi will be the title decider and a place in the Euro 2 qualifiers at RWC 2023.

Los Leones end their 24-year wait to qualify for a second Rugby World Cup with a short trip to France next year, where they will join the Webb Ellis Cup winners South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and Asia in Group B Queue/Pacific 1 Qualifier.

Spain and Portugal played a match fit for the occasion on Sunday, with Iberia's opponents giving everything they had in front of a large, loud crowd, all bathed in bright sunlight.

Portugal's ever-dependable striker Samuel Marques opened the scoring with a penalty, but the whole field rose as Jon Zabala ran straight home from 25 yards, head straight.

Los Leones couldn't cope with the restart, however, and after the hosts got the ball in at number 22, Portugal tried a left corner for fullback Simao Bento, with Marques leading 10-5.

Led by Zabala, the Spain attacker single-handedly took back control of the scoreboard as flankers Fred Quercy and Marco Pinto thundered at close range.

Unhampered by the double whammy, Portugal managed to take some good positions on the pitch and managed to convert possession and territory into points when Pedro Bettencourt quickly hit and knocked the ball down.

But the final word on an exciting half was Spain, as Pinto continued his streak, scoring for the second and sixth in as many games before halftime. Spain leads 24-17 with Manuel Ordas' second conversion.

The second half didn't match the first in terms of the fluidity of the game, but the tension was still maddening thanks to the penalties from Manuel Ordas and Samuel Marques in the third quarter. Rugby Fans can buy Rugby World Cup Tickets from our website.

Spain’s 2023 place in France has now been confirmed

Leading 33-23, Spain were under immense pressure in the final 10 minutes, and their corner attempt was handed to second-row runner Ho after successive penalties and a yellow card to Charlie Melie Sai Madeira.

Portugal refused to convert with 19 seconds left in an attempt to finish this brilliant Euro Rugby commercial in the stands.

Portugal announced a restart, but after several desperate stages before their own 22, they were penalized by French referee Tual Trainini as they held out and the scene of joyous celebrations for all in red began

While Portugal will need the Netherlands to host Romania on March 19 to finish third and qualify for the final, Spain's 2023 place in France has now been confirmed.

"It was a long trip and a very difficult qualifying process," said Spanish coach Santiago Santos.

"The team's performance has been great and we are delighted to participate in the Rugby World Cup."

Los Leones' RWC 2023 kicks off on Saturday, September 9, 2023, when they face Ireland at Stade de Bordeaux.

Eight days later, Santiago Santos' squad will face the Springboks in the same location before heading to Lille, where they will face Scotland on September 30 and take part in the Asia-Pacific qualifiers on October 8.

Spain last played at RWC 1999, where they tied in Group A with South Africa, Scotland and Uruguay. Los Leones lost all three games, all in Scotland when they withdrew from the group stage.

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