The Europe Zone qualifying campaign was the first to get under way back on September 23 2000 when Luxembourg beat Norway 41-9 in a first round involving 18 of the region’s lowest ranked countries.
The nations – Belgium, Slovenia, Malta, Monaco, Lithuania, Moldova, Bosnia, Hungary, Switzerland, Andorra, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Austria, Sweden, Latvia and Israel – formed three pools of six with the winners and best runner-up progressing.
Belgium topped Pool One after winning all five of their matches over a seven-month period, while a final match defeat in Yugoslavia was not enough to stop Switzerland topping Pool Two with one victory more than their conquerors and Andorra.
Top spot in Pool Three was not decided until the final round of matches when unbeaten Sweden and Latvia met in Enköping. Sweden emerged 17-10 winners, but Latvia also qualified for the second round as the best runner-up.
Awaiting these four qualifiers were the European Nations Cup Division B competitors – Ukraine, Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and Denmark – who had each received a bye to this stage. They formed two pools with only the winners surviving.
The Czech Republic had finished fifth in the 2000/01 European Nations Cup Division B table, but that did not stop them pipping champions Ukraine to top spot in Pool One with an unbeaten record. Poland finished top of Pool Two with four wins out of four.
The four bottom sides in the European Nations Cup Division A over the last two years – Russia, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands – entered the action with top two Georgia and Romania receiving a bye to the fourth round.
Russia eased through Pool One with two victories, but it could not have been closer in Pool Two with Spain, Portugal and Poland each winning one match. This meant top spot was decided on points difference with Spain +1, Portugal 0 and Poland –1.
Ireland and Italy – forced to qualify after failing to reach the quarterfinals in 1999 – were understandably the favourites to win their respective fourth round pools and so secure their places at Rugby World Cup 2003.
This they duly did with Ireland beating Russia and Georgia in Pool A and Italy overcoming Spain and Romania in Pool B. Georgia finished second after overcoming neighbours Russia 17-13, while Romania beat Spain 57-3 to also qualify.
Spain and Russia then progressed to the fifth round, where the winner of a two legged play off would enter the Répechage. This turned out to be Russia, their 36-3 win in Madrid seeing them through on aggregate despite a subsequent 38-22 loss at home.
However Russia’s hopes ended two days before their 25 January 2003 meeting with Africa representatives Tunisia when the IRB expelled them over the eligibility of three South African born players they had fielded against Spain.
Reinstated after Russia lost their appeal, Spain beat Tunisia 33-16 at a neutral venue in France. However their hopes of becoming the 20th and final qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2003 ended in April with a 120-26 aggregate defeat against the United States.