2008 Africa Cup
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Africa Cup
is the ninth edition of highest level rugby union tournament in Africa. The competition involves twelve teams that are divided into two zones (North and South). Each zone is then divided into two pools of three. Each pool winner then qualifies for a semi-final; the semi-final winners then play each other in the final.
. Swaziland
, Nigeria
and Botswana
have been added to the qualification process as they possess an IRB
ranking. A two-legged playoff between the two lowest ranked teams from the south (Botswana and Swaziland), and the two lowest ranked teams from the north (Cameroon
and Nigeria) will begin the tournament to take the competition numbers from 14 to 12 to make the group stage four groups of three teams.
Bonus point system: 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 0 for a loss, 1 point for scoring four tries in a game, 1 point for losing by seven or less.
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, Tunisia
, Uganda
and Côte d'Ivoire
.
Africa Cup
The Africa Cup is an annual rugby union tournament involving African nations, organised by the Confederation of African Rugby . The tournament was first held in 2000, and has since been contested on an annual basis...
is the ninth edition of highest level rugby union tournament in Africa. The competition involves twelve teams that are divided into two zones (North and South). Each zone is then divided into two pools of three. Each pool winner then qualifies for a semi-final; the semi-final winners then play each other in the final.
Format
The tournament will be used as the first stage of qualification for Rugby World Cup 2011. The top two teams will progress in the World Cup and qualify for the 2009 Africa Cup, which will be the main tournament for the African qualifiers2011 Rugby World Cup - Africa qualification
In the African Regional Qualifying Process, 14 of the 15 eligible IRB member nations took part ....
. Swaziland
Swaziland national rugby union team
The Swaziland national rugby union team represent Swaziland in the sport of rugby union. They are ranked as a tier-three nation by the International Rugby Board...
, Nigeria
Nigeria national rugby union team
The Nigeria national rugby union team represent Nigeria in the sport of rugby union. Nigeria have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have competed in qualifying tournaments....
and Botswana
Botswana national rugby union team
The Botswana national rugby union team represents Botswana in the sport of rugby union. Botswana have thus far not played in a Rugby World Cup, but have participated in qualifying tournaments.-History:...
have been added to the qualification process as they possess an IRB
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
ranking. A two-legged playoff between the two lowest ranked teams from the south (Botswana and Swaziland), and the two lowest ranked teams from the north (Cameroon
Cameroon national rugby union team
The Cameroon national rugby union team represent Cameroon in the sport of rugby union. They are ranked as a tier-three nation by the International Rugby Board . Cameroon have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have competed in qualifying tournaments...
and Nigeria) will begin the tournament to take the competition numbers from 14 to 12 to make the group stage four groups of three teams.
Pool Stage
Pool winners qualify for the semi-finals. Top teams also progress to second stage of world cup qualification, in the 2009 Africa Cup. Pools determined through world rankings.Bonus point system: 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 0 for a loss, 1 point for scoring four tries in a game, 1 point for losing by seven or less.
Pool A
| Country | GP | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +17 | 9 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -3 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -14 | 0 |
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Pool B
| Country | GP | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +35 | 9 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 5 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -33 | 0 |
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Pool C
| Country | GP | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +35 | 9 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +39 | 5 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -74 | 1 |
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Pool D
| Country | GP | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +27 | 10 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +20 | 5 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -47 | 0 |
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Next Round
Semi finals and final of this edition of the Africa Cup are to take place in 2009, doubling as the final leg of African Rugby World Cup qualification. The teams that progress to the 2009 Africa Cup are NamibiaNamibia national rugby union team
The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, represents Namibia at rugby union. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board tier system, the team have participated in all three Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999...
, Tunisia
Tunisia national rugby union team
The Tunisia national rugby union team is the national team of Tunisia, a third tier rugby union nation. They first started competing in 1979 and they competed, unsuccessfully in the African qualification for the 2007 Rugby World Cup....
, Uganda
Uganda national rugby union team
The Uganda national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Uganda, representing them at rugby union. Rugby union was introduced by the British during colonial rule and Uganda played their first international game against Kenya in 1958...
and Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire national rugby union team
The Ivory Coast national rugby union team, nicknamed Les Éléphants, represents Côte d'Ivoire in rugby union. The team is recognised as Ivory Coast by the International Rugby Board...
.