The final qualification tournament of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, the European Qualifiers will see six nations from across Europe battle it out for the final three positions.
Nations have been grouped into two pools, with one of Rugby League’s oldest nations and with over a century of international experience, Wales, being pooled with Serbia and Italy in Pool A, whilst in Pool B, Russia, Ireland and newcomers, Spain will do battle.
The nations who qualify top of each of the respective pools will automatically qualify for the 2017 tournament, whilst the runners up will play off for the final European Qualifier.
Round One of the European Qualifiers will kick off in Moscow, when the Russian Bears hosts Spain in what will be the first ever international between the two nations.
The Bears, who first made their international debut back in 1991 as the USSR and a former World Cup participant (2000), will come into the game as favourites against a Spanish outfit that has already surprised many making it this far in the qualifiers.
Spain, who only took up Rugby League three years ago, have already defeated Latvia, Malta and Greece on their way to the 2017 World Cup and will be looking to continue their giant killing ways when they head to Russian capital.
The other Round One clash for the Qualifiers will be held on the opposite side of Europe, in the West Wales town of Llanelli, where the Welsh Dragons host Serbia.
Llanelli has been a happy hunting ground for the Welsh, with the Dragons holding an undefeated record that stretches back to 1935.
It’s this record the Dragons will be keen on extending when they take on a vastly improving Serbian outfit, who are looking to recruit NRL quartet, Tom Opacic, Nikola Cotric and Trbojevic brothers, Jake and Tom for the tournament.
Wales won’t be without professional support, with the current European Champions welcoming back the likes of Ben Flower (Wigan), Lloyd White (Widnes), Rhys Evans (Warrington) and Gil Dudson (Widnes) to the Dragons.
Round Two sees away sides, Spain and Serbia, get their first chances to impress at home. Spain, will host Group B favourites, the Irish Wolfhounds, in Valencia, whilst Serbia will take on 2013 World Cup participants, the Italian Azzurri in Belgrade.
Serbia and Italy met at the same venue on the exact same weekend five year’s earlier in the European Qualifiers for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. On that day, the Azzurri ran out 52 – 6 winners, however since then Serbia has defeated Italy in three of the four clashes held between the two nations.
Italy however have been without their Super League and NRL based players for those clashes and will be again hoping to secure the likes of Paul Vaughan, Terry Campese and Josh Mantellato to help their chances of qualifying for their second ever World Cup in a must win clash for both nations.
The third and final round of the group stages of the tournament see’s the Welsh Dragons head to Italy, whilst Ireland will host the Russian Bears in Bray.
Held at Stadio Brianto in Monza, the Azzurri will be keen to build on their strong record against the Welsh, with the Italians previously defeating the Dragons in Wrexham (2010) and Cardiff (2013). In fact, the last time a team from the Valley’s defeated an Italian team in Rugby League was back in 1950 when a South Wales XIII defeated the Italians in Bridgend.
Wales however will be desperate to ensure that they qualify for their first Southern Hemisphere World Cup since 1975 and won’t be taking the Italians lightly.
Ireland’s clash against the Russian Bears in Bray will be the third official test match between the two nations with the two nations previously meeting in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers.
Back then the Wolfhounds were simply too strong for the Russians, racking up over 50 points in both clashes, however despite improvements domestically over the past decade, the Russians will be unlikely to close the gap by much in 2016.
The top placed teams from both pools will automatically secure their position at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, whilst the second placed nations from both pools will meet in Leigh for to decide the third and final qualifier.
The single knockout match will take place on November 4 at the home of the recently promoted Centurions Super League club.