World Rugby slam 'quite DESPICABLE' Spain after they were booted out of next year's Rugby World Cup for fielding an ineligible player in 'tampering' storm Spain were kicked out of the Rugby World Cup and were replaced by Portugal Spanish officials were devastated at last month's decision from World Rugby A written ruling from World Rugby has revealed the reasons behind the move The sport's governing body ejected Spain for fielding an ineligible player By Alex Bywater For Mailonline Published: 16:22 BST, 5 May 2022 | Updated: 16:22 BST, 5 May 2022 1 Viewcomments World Rugby has described the series of events which led Spain to be ejected from next year's World Cup in France as 'quite despicable'. The Spanish were found guilty last month of fielding an illegible player whose passport was forged so he could be selected on residency grounds. South Africa-born prop Gavin van den Berg made two appearances against the Netherlands during the World Cup qualifying campaign. Van den Berg – who plays for the Madrid-based club Alcobendas – was unaware his passport had been forged. Spain qualified for the Rugby World Cup but were booted out for fielding an ineligible player Concerns over Gavin Van den Berg's eligibility were raised by the Romanian rugby federation Spain finished as runners-up in the Rugby Europe Championship to seal a place at France 2023 and what would have been their first World Cup in 24 years. But World Rugby's investigation on Van den Berg found he had not been a Spanish resident for the 36-month period required to play for his adopted country. A 10-point deduction and a £25,000 fine as well as being kicked out of the World Cup was Spain's punishment. They will be replaced by Portugal for next year's tournament. On Thursday, World Rugby released a full written decision which criticised Spain's less-than-vigilant attitude to the sport's eligibility laws. The written decision states: 'Representatives from the player's club had apparently, without either Spain's or the player's knowledge, tampered with travel stamps in the player's passport to make it seem that the player had not been out of Spain for more than two months in that first year to facilitate the player's reclassification as a domestic player. Spanish rugby officials were left devastated by World Rugby's decision, made last month 'However, notwithstanding the amended stamps, the player had been out of Spain for longer than the permitted period. 'The machinations revealed over the apparent tampering are quite despicable and reflect very badly on those that may have played a part in such events. 'All three allegedly complicit club officials declined to give evidence. 'The committee further expressed concerns the union did not appear to have an appropriate process in place to review the movements of players that were relying on residence for eligibility. Spain celebrated their qualification only to be booted out of the tournament by World Rugby 'The committee noted the union had been sanctioned in the past for selection of non-eligible players and in those circumstances expected the union to have stringent processes in place to ensure the circumstances of each player had been carefully considered prior to being selected. 'The committee further noted its dissatisfaction with the union not seeking confirmation of the player's eligibility in advance of selecting the player to represent the union.' Spain have a right to appeal the full written decision within 14 days but they are unlikely to do so. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility