Canada complete Rugby World Cup puzzle

Canada have maintained their record of appearing in every Rugby World Cup by claiming the 20th and last berth in next year's tournament in Japan.

The Canadians qualified by defeating Hong Kong 27-10 in the rain on a chewed-up field in Marseille, with two brilliant tries by record try-scorer DTH van der Merwe.

As the unbeaten winner of the four-team repechage, Canada filled out Pool B in Japan, where they will play New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Namibia in a 17-day span from September.

Canada have faced all four teams previously at Rugby World Cups, and beaten only Namibia, in 1999.

Canada's best finish was the quarter-finals in 1991, losing to the All Blacks.

Hong Kong would have qualified for their first Rugby World Cup with a bonus-point win over Canada but squandered possession and territory by lacking a cutting edge in the first half, and succumbing in the set-pieces in the second half.

RESULT

Canada 27

Tries: Van der Merwe, Barkwill

 Cons: McRorie 3

Pens: McRorie 2

Hong Kong 10

Tries: Hartley

Cons: Rosslee

Pens: Rosslee

POOLS

2019 Rugby World Cup pools

Pool A

Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Russia, Samoa

Pool B

New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Namibia, Canada

Pool C

England, France, Argentina, United States, Tonga

Pool D

Australia, Wales, Georgia, Fiji, Uruguay