Canada became the first nation to get through the qualifying process and confirm their place at the 2011 World Cup when they beat the United States 41-18 in the second leg of their play-off in Edmonton. The win at Ellerslie Rugby Park gave Canada a 47-30 aggregate victory, following the US's 12-6 win in Charleston on July 4, and qualifies them for the World Cup to join the hosts New Zealand, France, Tonga and the Asian qualifier in Pool A.
Canada have played in every edition of the World Cup but only once, when they lost to New Zealand in the 1991 quarter-finals, have they got past the group stage. The United States can still qualify but need to beat Uruguay in a home and away play-off to determine the Americas 2 qualifier, who will join Australia, Ireland, Italy and Europe 2 in Pool C. The loser of this tie will have another chance to qualify through the cross-continental final place play-off in 2010.
* Reuters