(Reuters) -A final berth for the 2027 Rugby World Cup will be decided in Dubai over the next fortnight as Belgium, Brazil, Namibia and Samoa compete in a round-robin competition in the city's Sevens Stadium.
The side finishing at the top of the standings will compete in the 24-team line-up at the tournament in Australia.
It is a final chance for Samoa, whose fortunes have slipped drastically after having twice been World Cup quarter-finalists and qualifying for the past nine tournaments.
Samoa lost out in the Pacific qualifying round in September, finishing last out of the six participating countries, and were then beaten by Chile over two legs in a play-off.
"I could sit here and say all the excuses, but we are here and what is important is what happens next and that is getting ourselves to qualify for the World Cup," captain Theo McFarland said.
The Dubai tournament is also a last opportunity for another World Cup regular, Namibia, and its meeting with Samoa on November 13 is expected to be the key decider.
“Samoa is ranked 16th in the world, we are ranked 27th, they’ve played big test matches,” said Namibia coach Jacques Burger.
“Their players are professionals from outside, playing in top leagues. They will be extremely tough.”
Namibia, who have played in the last seven World Cups, suffered a shock 30-28 loss to Zimbabwe in the African qualifying final in Kampala in July and then had to win a play-off against the United Arab Emirates to earn a place in the Dubai tournament.
Belgium and Brazil are both chasing their first World Cup berth, although Brazil lost heavily to Paraguay in the South American play-offs, only to be restored to the field last week when Paraguay withdrew after admitting to fielding an ineligible player.
Brazil will meet Samoa in Saturday’s opening game, followed by Namibia against Belgium, whose squad is almost exclusively sourced from clubs in France and who beat Canada away in a test in July.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)
