22 Nov 2009

USA qualify for RWC2011 in New Zealand

4:44 pm on 22 November 2009

The United States has qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand with a 27-6 victory over Uruguay in Florida.

The Eagles, who had qualified for all but one of the previous six World Cups, followed up their 27-22 win in last weekend's first leg in Montevideo with a more comfortable win.

Uruguay, who played the last half hour a man short after prop Mario Sagario was sent off, get a second chance to qualify for the World Cup through next year's playoffs.

As in the first leg, the Eagles ran in four tries only this time Uruguay failed to make the late response that saw them recover from a similar 27-6 deficit last weekend.

In New Zealand in two years, the US will play in Pool C with two-time champion Australia, Ireland, Italy and a European team yet to be determined.