Springboks one of nine nations kicked out of Rugby World Cup contention

Over the years, countries have seen their World Cup hopes disappear because of everything from player eligibility breaches to political sanctions and government interference.

Some had already secured their place before being thrown out. Others were removed midway through qualifying or prevented from taking part altogether.

Even the Springboks, now the most successful nation in Rugby World Cup history, feature on the list.

Here are nine nations who have been kicked out of Rugby World Cup contention.

The biggest name on the list.

South Africa were absent from both the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups because of the country's international sporting isolation during apartheid.

The Springboks finally returned to international rugby in 1992 before hosting their first World Cup just three years later.

They famously won it, beating New Zealand 15-12 after extra-time at Ellis Park, with Nelson Mandela presenting the Webb Ellis Cup to captain Francois Pienaar.

RUCK recently looked back at five members of the legendary 1995 Springboks squad who are sadly no longer with us.

Few countries have suffered more Rugby World Cup heartbreak off the pitch than Spain.

Their hopes of reaching the 2019 tournament were destroyed after an investigation found they had fielded ineligible players during European qualification.

World Rugby's investigation resulted in Spain being deducted a massive 40 competition points, dropping them out of contention.

Remarkably, it happened again four years later.

Spain initially qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup before being hit with another points deduction after South Africa-born prop Gavin van den Berg was ruled ineligible for two qualifiers.

The punishment meant Spain lost their World Cup place, with Romania qualifying instead.

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

The Oaks had initially secured their place in Japan before the investigation found they had fielded an ineligible player in six matches connected to World Cup qualification.

Romania were subsequently docked 30 competition points.

That completely changed the qualification table and handed Russia an automatic place at the tournament.

Romania appealed against the punishment, but World Rugby confirmed the independent appeal committee had upheld the original decision.

They would eventually return to the World Cup in France four years later.

Belgium were the third European nation punished during the same extraordinary eligibility investigation.

World Rugby found that Belgium had used one or more ineligible players in seven Rugby Europe Championship matches, six of which formed part of the 2019 World Cup qualification process.

They were deducted 30 competition points and received a suspended financial sanction.

Belgium hadn't already booked a World Cup place like Romania, but the punishment ended their hopes through that qualifying campaign.

They have since come much closer to making history, reaching the Final Qualification Tournament for the expanded 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Russia have actually been kicked out of Rugby World Cup contention in two completely different eras.

The first came ahead of the 2003 tournament, when they were disqualified from the qualification process following an eligibility controversy involving South African-born players.

Almost two decades later, Russia were removed from contention again for a completely different reason.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, World Rugby announced the full and immediate suspension of Russia and Belarus from international rugby.

Russia were still involved in European qualification for the 2023 Rugby World Cup at the time.

World Rugby subsequently confirmed that their outstanding qualifiers would be treated as abandoned, ending their hopes of reaching France.

Russia and Belarus also feature in RUCK's look at the countries barred from the 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification process.

One of the more remarkable cases came during qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Tahiti defeated the Cook Islands 13-9 in August 2017 to move a step closer to the tournament in Japan.

There was just one problem.

Tahiti were later found to have fielded two ineligible players.

The result was overturned and Tahiti were removed from the next stage of qualification.

The Cook Islands were reinstated in their place, turning what had been a famous Tahitian victory into World Cup heartbreak.

Paraguay became the latest nation to lose their place in a Rugby World Cup qualification competition.

They had beaten Brazil home and away to secure a place in the Final Qualification Tournament for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

However, Paraguay subsequently discovered they had fielded an ineligible player in both matches.

Rather than fight the case, the Paraguayan Rugby Union admitted the mistake and withdrew from the competition.

World Rugby confirmed Brazil would replace Paraguay, accepting Paraguay's explanation that an administrative oversight had caused the breach.

RUCK also covered the dramatic decision as Brazil advanced to the Final Qualification Tournament following Paraguay's withdrawal.

Nigeria's route towards the 2023 Rugby World Cup was halted before they could properly get going.

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

The timing couldn't have been much worse.

Nigeria had been due to participate in Rugby World Cup pre-qualification in Burkina Faso.

Their suspension meant they could not compete, bringing their World Cup campaign to an end without getting the opportunity to settle matters on the pitch.

Belarus were suspended from international rugby alongside Russia in February 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Belarus' role in facilitating it.

World Rugby announced the full and immediate suspension of both Russia and Belarus from all international rugby and cross-border club rugby activities.

Unlike Russia, Belarus were not sitting in one of the decisive European qualification positions for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Their case is therefore different from the likes of Spain, Romania and Tahiti, who were directly removed from World Cup qualifying campaigns.

However, Belarus' suspension removed them from international competition altogether and subsequently kept them out of the qualification process for Australia 2027.

You can read more about the current situation in RUCK's breakdown of the three countries barred from Rugby World Cup 2027 qualification.