Spain has hung on to beat Portugal 33-28 in Madrid on Sunday and seal a place at the 2023 Rugby World Cup to be held in France and it is only the second time the team have qualified for the global showpiece tournament.

The Spanish, who took part in the 1999 World Cup, will be in Group B, alongside holders South Africa, Scotland, Ireland and a team from the Asia-Pacific region.

Roared on by more than 6,000 fans at the Complutense University on a sunny morning in the Spanish capital, hooker Marco Pinto led the way for Spain with two, first-half tries.

Portugal threw everything at the Spaniards in the closing stages of the match but the hosts held firm and when their long-overdue return to the World Cup was confirmed, the supporters invaded the pitch to celebrate with the players.

Lock Leauma died, aged 32, from head injuries sustained in a fall in the Netherlands in December.

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Spain climbed to 29 points in the qualification group, with six wins and three losses, behind Georgia who have secured their place in France, with eight wins and one draw, after defeating Romania 26-23 in Bucharest on Saturday.

In their final match of the campaign, Spain will play Georgia on March 20.

Portugal are third in the standings, with 25 points, but Romania have 23 points and a game in hand against the Netherlands next weekend. The team finishing third will go into the final qualification tournament in November.

Reuters / AP