Around 20 teams will participate in the final phase of Rugby World Cup 2007. Out of the 20 teams, 19 have been qualified. The 20 th team will be selected only after the last repechage match to be held at the end of March.
These 19 teams that are competing to win the trophy include England, South Africa, Samoa, USA, Australia, Wales, Fiji, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, Romania, France, Ireland, Argentina, Georgia, Namibia and Tonga.
England , the defending champions and the finalist of the 1991 Rugby World Cup were the first team to bring the World Cup to the northern hemisphere. The team stands in the sixth position in the International Rugby Board's world ranking.
South Africa , the winners of the 1995 Rugby World Cup enjoys the third position in the International Rugby Board's world ranking. The quarter finalist of the 2003 Rugby World Cup and semi finalist of the 1999 Rugby World Cup is preparing to grab the trophy this year.
USA , which ranks 14 th position in the International Rugby Board's world ranking and the Australia n team, which holds the 4 th position and the winner of 1991 and 1999 Rugby World Cup and the finalist of 2003 Rugby World Cup headed by John Connolly are the other two rugby teams all set to participate in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Samoa , which holds the 10 th position, Wales holding the 9 th rank and the semifinalist of 1987, Fiji , the 11 th rank holder in the International Rugby Board's world ranking, Canada , which holds the 13 th position and Japan , which enjoys the 18 th position are the other rugby teams qualified for Rugby World Cup 2007.
New Zealand that holds the first position in the International Rugby Board's world ranking and the winner of 1987 Rugby World Cup, Scotland , which is in the 7 th position, Italy , the 12 th rank holder, Romania , which is in the 15 th position, France , which holds the 2 nd position in the International Rugby Board's world ranking, Ireland and Argentina which are in the 5 th and 8 th positions respectively and Georgia and Namibia , holding the 17 th and 23 rd positions respectively are also been qualified for Rugby World Cup 2007.
