IRL Men's Rugby League World Cup 2008 Qualifiers
In 2006 the RLIF Board resolved that the world cup in 2008 would be a 10-team tournament, although eight-, nine- and 12-team formats were also considered. Hosts Australia, which would celebrate its centenary during the finals, England, France, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand were confirmed as automatic qualifiers in March 2005 with five qualifier berths available to two nations from the Northern Hemisphere, two from the Southern Hemisphere and one repechage.
All qualifiers were played in 2006-7, with the intention to limit invitations to those nations with domestic competitions and a requirement for all squads to include a contingent of domestic quota players.
IRL Men’s Rugby League World Cup 2008 (Asia-Pacific) Qualifiers: Pacific
Tonga and Fiji qualified from the Southern Hemisphere after a tight Pacific Group, largely played in Sydney, with the crucial final match, that saw Tonga top the group and resign Samoa to the repechage round, played in Leeds as part of the Federation Shield.
IRL Men’s Rugby League World Cup 2008 (Asia-Pacific) Qualifiers: Atlantic
The USA advanced to the repechage round in England following a one-off match against Japan.
IRL Men’s Rugby League World Cup 2008 (Europe) Qualifiers
The largest regional world cup qualification competition in the game's history took place in Europe, with eight nations competing over two phases. The top two teams from the first phase were expected to proceed to the second phase, but Georgia was removed from the competition after forfeiting its match against Russia, which qualified for Group B alongside Lebanon and Ireland. Group A proceeded with just two teams, with Scotland edging past Wales to qualify for the world cup on points difference.
After drawing twice with Ireland, Lebanon advanced to the repechage round with Wales.
IRL Men’s Rugby League World Cup 2008 (Inter-Regional) Qualifiers: Repechage
Samoa became the tenth and final qualifier for the world cup finals following their victories against the USA and then Lebanon.