South Africa among 12 nations kicked out of Rugby World Cup

Thursday, 27 August 2026 at 09:48

bySteven Smith

A former Rugby World Cup host bidder remains banned from international rugby until further notice, with Samoa potentially at risk of becoming the latest nation to face major sanctions.

⭐ Save us to your Google Favourites for nonstop RUCK content!

From Russia and South Africa to Spain and Sri Lanka, several countries have previously been suspended or thrown out of major international competition.

Here are some of the biggest cases.

1. RUSSIA – SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Russia remain the most high-profile nation currently suspended from international rugby.

World Rugby imposed sanctions on both Russia and Belarus in February 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, suspending the countries from all international rugby and cross-border club competition until further notice.

The Rugby Union of Russia was also suspended from World Rugby membership.

The punishment brought Russia's involvement in qualification for the 2023 Rugby World Cup to an end and the country has remained outside international competition.

It represented a dramatic fall for a nation that competed at both the 2011 and 2019 Rugby World Cups and had previously expressed an ambition to host the tournament.

2. BELARUS – SUSPENDED ALONGSIDE RUSSIA

Belarus were hit by the same World Rugby sanctions announced in February 2022.

World Rugby suspended Russia and Belarus from all international rugby and cross-border club rugby activities until further notice following Belarus' role in facilitating Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Unlike Russia, Belarus had never appeared at a Rugby World Cup and were a considerably smaller force in the international game.

Nevertheless, they remain one of the clearest modern examples of an entire country being prevented from competing internationally.

3. SOUTH AFRICA – SHUT OUT DURING APARTHEID

The most famous example of a major rugby nation being shut out of the international game involves South Africa.

The Springboks became increasingly isolated from international sport because of the country's apartheid regime, with many nations refusing to play them.

South Africa were unable to participate in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup because of their international sporting isolation and were also absent when the tournament returned in 1991.

They returned to international rugby in 1992 as apartheid was being dismantled.

Just three years later, South Africa hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup, with Nelson Mandela famously presenting captain Francois Pienaar with the Webb Ellis Cup after the Springboks defeated New Zealand in the final.

4. SPAIN – THROWN OUT OF TWO WORLD CUP CAMPAIGNS

Spain have arguably suffered more World Cup heartbreak through eligibility breaches than any other nation.

Their hopes of reaching the 2019 Rugby World Cup were destroyed after an independent committee found they had fielded ineligible players during European qualification.

Spain were deducted 40 competition points, costing them their chance of reaching the tournament.

Remarkably, history repeated itself four years later.

Spain initially celebrated qualification for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, only to lose their place after fielding South African-born prop Gavin van den Berg when he was not eligible.

World Rugby imposed a 10-point deduction, resulting in Romania replacing Spain as Europe 2.

It meant Spain had effectively been thrown out of two consecutive Rugby World Cup qualification campaigns because of player eligibility breaches.

5. ROMANIA – LOST THEIR WORLD CUP PLACE

Romania were also caught up in the extraordinary eligibility scandal that reshaped qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

An independent World Rugby committee found Romania had fielded an ineligible player on eight occasions during the 2017 and 2018 Rugby Europe Championships.

They were subsequently deducted 30 competition points.

The punishment cost Romania their automatic qualification place, with Russia promoted into the tournament as Europe 1.

It ended an incredible sequence for the Oaks, who had appeared at every Rugby World Cup between 1987 and 2015.

Romania returned to the tournament in 2023 – ironically after Spain's eligibility punishment handed them an automatic qualification place.

6. BELGIUM – HIT WITH HUGE POINTS DEDUCTION

Belgium were the third country punished following World Rugby's investigation into the European qualification process for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The investigation found Belgium had fielded one or more ineligible players on seven occasions, six of which related to World Cup qualification.

They were handed a 30-point deduction, while Belgium were also given a suspended financial penalty.

Unlike Romania and Spain, Belgium had not secured a World Cup place to lose, but the punishment effectively wiped out their results from the qualification campaign.

7. TAHITI – WORLD CUP RESULT OVERTURNED

Tahiti suffered an even more direct punishment during qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

They had beaten the Cook Islands 13-9 in Rarotonga to advance to the next stage of qualifying.

However, an investigation subsequently found the Tahiti Rugby Union had fielded two ineligible players.

World Rugby overturned the result and declared the Cook Islands the winners, eliminating Tahiti from the qualification process.

8. NIGERIA – SUSPENDED AFTER GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE

Nigeria's case could prove particularly relevant to what is now happening with Samoa.

Rugby Africa suspended the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation in 2021 following government intervention in the administration of the sport.

Nigeria's sports ministry had dissolved the boards of a number of national sporting federations, including rugby, and replaced them with caretaker committees.

Rugby Africa regarded the move as government interference, with Nigeria subsequently prevented from participating in Rugby Africa and World Rugby activities.

It had immediate consequences, ruling Nigeria out of the opening stages of Rugby World Cup qualification.

9. SRI LANKA – SUSPENDED, THEN REINSTATED

Sri Lanka provide perhaps the most relevant recent precedent for Samoa.

World Rugby suspended Sri Lanka Rugby from membership in May 2023 following governance concerns and issues surrounding political interference in the administration of the sport.

However, the suspension proved temporary.

After progress was made over the governance situation, Sri Lanka were reinstated later in 2023.

Sri Lanka Rugby are once again listed as a full member of World Rugby, confirming the suspension is no longer in place.

Their case demonstrates both how seriously World Rugby can treat political interference and how sanctions can be reversed once governance issues are resolved.

10. GREECE – MEMBERSHIP SUSPENDED

Greece have also experienced suspension from rugby's international governing structure.

The Hellenic Federation of Rugby had its World Rugby membership suspended after losing recognition from the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sport.

World Rugby required the federation to regain government recognition and satisfy its membership criteria before its status could be resolved.

Again, the case highlights the importance placed on having a recognised and independently functioning national governing body.

11. CAMEROON – SUSPENDED BEFORE RETURNING

Cameroon provide another example of a nation disappearing from World Rugby before eventually returning.

The Fédération Camerounaise de Rugby became a full member in 1999, but its membership was suspended in 2013 amid concerns over inactivity and its failure to continue meeting membership requirements.

Cameroon eventually returned to the World Rugby structure and are once again listed as a full member.

Like Sri Lanka, their story demonstrates that suspension does not necessarily mean permanent exclusion.

12. MAURITANIA – MEMBERSHIP SUSPENDED

Mauritania were also hit by World Rugby membership sanctions in 2013.

The African nation had previously become a full member of the international federation but had its membership suspended amid concerns over inactivity and failure to continue satisfying membership requirements.

Unlike the political controversies surrounding South Africa and Russia, this was essentially an administrative and development issue.

Nevertheless, it remains another example of a national union being removed from rugby's international structure.

COULD SAMOA BE NEXT?

Now one of the most famous rugby nations in the Pacific could potentially join the list.

The developing dispute surrounding Lakapi Samoa, the Samoan government and the administration of rugby in the country has raised fears over what could happen if World Rugby determines its rules surrounding the independence and governance of member unions have been breached.

That makes the precedents involving Sri Lanka and Nigeria particularly significant, with both facing sanctions following government involvement in the administration of rugby.

For Samoa, the stakes could be enormous.

Manu Samoa have competed at every Rugby World Cup since making their tournament debut in 1991, famously reaching the quarter-finals in both 1991 and 1995.

With the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia approaching, any suspension from international rugby could therefore have major consequences.

Nothing has been confirmed yet, but if the situation escalates, Samoa could become the latest rugby nation to be shut out of the international game.

Quiz: Name these 10 retro rugby players

From jaw-dropping tries to unforgettable moments (and yes, some questionable haircuts), these players defined a golden era of the game. If their names don’t instantly come to mind, we suggest a quick trip to YouTube to jog your memory. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Ready to test your knowledge? Let’s see if you’ve still got it. Good luck!