2. Spain (3 Matches)
Spain may well have been removed from this list, if they hadn’t breached World Rugby’s eligibility laws on two occasions. Spain successfully secured qualification to the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups, however, both times the Spaniards have since been disqualified after fielding illegal players during the competition’s qualification stages.
The most recent case saw Romania replace Spain at this year’s tournament, after ‘The Lions’ fielded South African-born prop Gavin Van Den Berg. Despite a lengthy appeal, and claims of Van Den Berg’s sufficient 36-month residency, Spain will again miss out on the Rugby World Cup. So to date, Spain’s only run at the Rugby World Cup came in 1999, where they lost three consecutive matches in a row.
Spain were slotted into Pool A, and missed out on a golden opportunity to record a historic Rugby World Cup win in their opening match against ‘like-for-like’ opponents Uruguay. Despite the best efforts of Spain’s Ukrainian-born fly half Andriy Kovalenco, who kicked five penalties for his side, Uruguay ran in four tries for a 27-15 win.
It was then a downward spiral for the Spaniards, as they had unfavourable matches booked in against South Africa and Scotland. Both the ‘Boks and the Scots pumped more than 40 points out in Edinburgh, and sent Spain tumbling out of the Rugby World Cup. South Africa ran out comfortable victors in a 47-3 walkover, before Scotland did a little better, shutting out the demoralised Spanish with seven unanswered tries, for a 48-0 win.