Italy qualify for 2007 Rugby World Cup in France
{{date|October 14, 2006}}
[[Image:Flag of Italy.svg|210px|thumb|right|Italy qualify for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.]]
[[Italy]] have qualified for the [[w:2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 Rugby World Cup]] in [[France]]. [[w:Italy national rugby union team|Italy]] began their qualification process in [[w:2007 Rugby World Cup - European qualification#Round 5 - October 2006|Round 5 of the European tournaments]]. The Italians went through relatively easily, finishing with a 150-7 aggregate score over their only two games.

Italy in Pool A of Round 5, won their first match against [[w:Portugal national rugby union team|Portugal]] 83 points to nil in [[w:L'Aquila|L'Aquila]] on October 7. The following week they defeated [[w:Russia national rugby union team|Russia]] 67 to 7 in [[w:Moscow|Moscow]], sealing top position in the pool and sending them into next year's World Cup as Europe 1.

Italy enters Pool C of the World Cup, alongside the [[w:All Blacks|All Blacks]] of New Zealand and [[w:Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]], as well as two other nations that have yet to qualify (Europe 2 and Repechage 1). Italy have appeared at every World Cup since the first tournament in [[w:1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]], their best result being in [[w:2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]] with two wins. Portugal and Russia both can still qualify for the World Cup, with the nations meeting next week in [[w:Lisbon|Lisbon]]. The second placed team in the pool will advance to Round 6 to play the runner-up of Pool B.

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=18&art_id=iol116082954291R212
|title=Italy claim World Cup spot
|author=
|pub=IOL
|date=October 14, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.planet-rugby.com/News/story_54469.shtml
|title=Clear ride to France for the Azzurri
|author=
|pub=Planet Rugby
|date=October 14, 2006}}

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[[Category:Rugby World Cup]]
[[Category:Rugby]]
[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Sports]]
Italy qualify for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
Italy have qualified for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. Italy began their qualification process in Round 5 of the European tournaments. The Italians went through relatively easily, finishing with a 150-7 aggregate score over their only two games.

Italy in Pool A of Round 5, won their first match against Portugal 83 points to nil in L'Aquila on October 7. The following week they defeated Russia 67 to 7 in Moscow, sealing top position in the pool and sending them into next year's World Cup as Europe 1.

Italy enters Pool C of the World Cup, alongside the All Blacks of New Zealand and Scotland, as well as two other nations that have yet to qualify (Europe 2 and Repechage 1). Italy have appeared at every World Cup since the first tournament in 1987, their best result being in 2003 with two wins. Portugal and Russia both can still qualify for the World Cup, with the nations meeting next week in Lisbon. The second placed team in the pool will advance to Round 6 to play the runner-up of Pool B.

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