Italy became the fourteenth and final nation to qualify for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup after edging Lebanon to top spot in the European zone qualifiers. They drew 19-19 with the Cedars in the final match of the round-robin qualifying tournament to progress on points difference.

Italy will join the USA as debutants in the world cup after the Tomahawks crushed Jamaica in their winner-takes-all match in Philadelphia.

Lebanon had the advantage after round one, but their difficult trip to Russia ultimately proved their undoing, their inability to score more than 6 second-half points putting them in arrears to Italy, whose 52-points against Serbia were to be decisive.

Serbia performed well against Russia in the penultimate match of the qualifiers, a late rally in each half adding to an exciting contest.