Rugby Africa will be staged in France

Shujaa's Nelson Oyoo [Courtesy-World Rugby]

It's official that the highly anticipated Rugby Africa Cup 2022 will be out of African soil.

The tournament will take place Stade Maurice-David in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, France from 1 to 10 July 2022 to determine the team that will qualify as "Africa 1” to the Rugby World Cup 2023.

Confirming the development, Rugby Africa President Khaled Babbou said, France is ready to host the tournament.

“I am looking forward to organising an outstanding Rugby Africa Cup in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence,” said Babbou.

France 2023 CEO Claude Atcher said commitment to France 2023 will serve as a model for new competitions.

"The Rugby Africa Cup 2022 is a milestone on the road to Rugby World Cup 2023 and will be a magnificent celebration ahead of time in France and a great opportunity to contribute to the development of African rugby,” said Atcher.

“I am proud to organise this competition in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, in the south of France bathed by the Mediterranean Sea and turned towards Africa.

“We want to honour the emerging rugby unions, who are changing our sport and represent the strength of tomorrow.”

The Africa 1 qualifier has been drawn in Pool A alongside New Zealand, hosts France, Italy and Uruguay. Runners-Up in the group stages will also proceed for the RWC 2023 through the Final Qualification Tournament.

"The Rugby Africa Cup 2022 is a milestone on the road to Rugby World Cup 2023 and will be a magnificent celebration ahead of time in France and a great opportunity to contribute to the development of African rugby,” France 2023 CEO Claude Atcher said.

“I am proud to organise this competition in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, in the south of France bathed by the Mediterranean Sea and turned towards Africa.

“We want to honour the emerging rugby unions, who are changing our sport and represent the strength of tomorrow.”

In Group A was Namibia and Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal were paired with Kenya with Group C consisting of Uganda and Algeria with Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso in group D.

Namibia, Uganda and Zimbabwe qualified for the quarter-finals as pool winners.

They have been joined in the last eight by pool runners-up Burkina Faso, Algeria, Kenya and Ivory Coast. Namibia will face Burkina Faso in the first quarter finals with Senegal taking on Algeria while two neighbouring countries of Kenya and Uganda will square it out with Zimbabwe wrapping it up with Cote d'Ivoire.  

The winner of the quarter-final between Namibia and Burkina Faso will meet either Zimbabwe or Ivory Coast – who have appeared at three Rugby World Cups between them – in the semi-finals.

Either Senegal or Algeria will then play the winner of the quarter-final between Uganda and East Africa rivals Kenya for a place in the final.?

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