RWC 2019: What about a ‘Qualifiers Cup’?
After producing a handful of the most memorable moments of the 2015 World Cup, qualifiers like Japan and Georgia have left the UK empty handed.
But wouldn't it be great if the eight qualifiers had something more to play for?
Sure competing on the world stage is a fantastic achievement, but after fighting for four years to earn a spot at the World Cup, don’t the qualifiers deserve a little more?
What if a ‘Qualifiers Cup’ was held at the 2019 World Cup in Japan?
At the end of the pool stages, the top four qualifiers that don’t make the quarter finals could face off in a 1v4, 2v3 format.
Using the 2015 tournament as an example, Japan (1st) would face Romania (4th) in one semi final, with Georgia (2nd) playing Fiji (5th) in the other.
Considering the likes of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, USA and Canada will all need to qualify for 2019, the Cup would be hotly contested in four years time.
The semi finals could be played on the Thursday and Friday before the quarter finals with the