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Spain quailify for 2023 Rugby World Cup

By Ian Cameron
Victor Sanchez (L) of Spain of Spain celebrate qualifying fro the Rugby World Cup 2023 with teammate Thierry Feuteu (2ndL) after winning the Rugby Europe Championship 2022 match between Spain and Portugal at Campo Rugby Central (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Spain have qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France after beating Portugal 33-28 in Madrid on Sunday.

It will be their first appearance in 24 years at the tournament.

"It's been a long journey and a very tough qualification process," said Spain head coach Santiago Santos."We lost our first three games and after that, we have won six in a row.

"The performance of the team was amazing and we are very excited to be going to the Rugby World Cup."

Neighbours Portugal now need the Netherlands to beat Romania on 19 March to claim third place, which will see them make it to the final RWC qualification tournament.

Rugby World Cup regulars Romania will likewise be aiming to make the final qualifying tournament with a victory over the Netherlands.

Los Leones will now face the daunting task of Ireland, Scotland and South Africa in their Rugby World Cup pool B, alongside the Asia / Pacific 1 qualifier, which has yet to be determined.

Georgia have already joined the Wallabies’ pool at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France after topping the Rugby Europe Championship.

Georgia pipped hosts Romania 26-23 in Bucharest on Saturday to seal their spot in Pool C where they will take on Australia, Fiji, Wales and another qualifier.

Georgia had already secured qualification for the World Cup because Russia was banned from the 2022 European Championship over its invasion of Ukraine.

- additional reporting AAP