More automatic qualifiers for finals

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Rugby World Cup board members have announced an increase in automatic qualifiers from eight to 12, who will progress straight through to the competition in New Zealand four years from now.

International Rugby Board chairman Dr Syd Millar said: "In recognition of the amount of rugby now being played and the implications on the establishment of an integrated season, the RWC board has decided there should be 12 automatic qualifying places for future tournaments."

England, South Africa, Australia, Wales, New Zealand, Scotland, France and Ireland are tipped to fill an initial eight slots after the World Cup in France, but the top three teams in each of four pools will now avoid qualifying matches for 2011, suggesting Samoa, Fiji, Italy and Argentina could all benefit.

Millar added: "This will serve to reduce the potential number of international matches that would have to be played in the years before a tournament by those teams who did not make the quarter-finals of the previous RWC, reducing fixture congestion.

"With the top three teams in each pool qualifying directly to the next RWC, this new process raises the prospect of several Tier Two unions obtaining automatic qualification.

"This does not happen at present, and it will add excitement and relevance to more pool matches at each tournament, including the 2007 World Cup."