Samoa, HK pull out of WCup qualifiers

Samoa and Hong Kong have pulled out of the final qualification tournaments for the Women’s World Cup in Dubai due to insurmountable logistical challenges.

Hong Kong was due to participate in the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship, which would act as a feeder event for the Rugby World Cup 2021 Final Qualification Tournament.

Samoa was intending to head straight for that final qualifier matches.

However, lockdown restrictions in Hong Kong and Samoa’s policy to enforce a six-month return moratorium for anyone who tests positive outside of their country, contributed to the decision for both sides not to travel.

The move means that only Kazakhstan, Colombia and Scotland are still in the hunt to make the event that kicks off on 8 October and plays through to 12 November.

 Kazakhstan and Colombia will now play in a semi-final on 19 February, and the winner will face Scotland in a final on 25 February.

The winner of that match will go into World Cup Pool A, with New Zealand, Australia and Wales.

By Reginald Chandar