Rugby World Cup
Madagascar edge nearer World Cup place
ESPN Staff
July 15, 2013
Madagascarlost to Zimbabwe in their semi final but bounced back to defeat Uganda on home soil to keep their hopes of qualifying alive © IRB
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Minnows Madagascar are just two wins away from claiming a place at the 2015 Rugby World Cup having defeated Uganda 48-32 to retain their place in the top division of the Confederation Africaine de Rugby (CAR) Africa Cup in front of 40,000 in Antananarivo.

Madagascar will now join Kenya, who were crowned CAR Africa Cup champions after defeating Zimbabwe 29-17 in the decisive match, Zimbabwe and Namibia in the four-team top division in 2014 - an event that will deliver the Africa 1 qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2015 and a place in Pool C alongside champions New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Europe 1.

Kenya and Zimbabwe were assured their place in next year's competition before the final round of matches on Sunday, and therefore the focus for a vociferous crowd in party mood was the relegation decider, with the home team cheered all the way to victory.

The runners-up in Africa's premier event in 2014 will progress to the Rugby World Cup 2015 repechage process where they will meet a European opponent with the winners of that match qualifying for the repechage final where they will play the winners of the Asia v Americas repechage process home and away. The repechage winner will qualify for England 2015 in Pool A alongside Australia, England, Wales and Oceania 1.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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