Qatar has been approved as a full member at the Annual Meeting of World Rugby Council, which was held virtually on 11 May.
Nepal and Turkey are the other two nations which have been approved as full members.
Each of the three national unions have ascended to that status having previously been associate members.
World Rugby’s supreme decision-making body approved the recommendations of the Executive Board and Regional Committee, to accept their moves to full membership, after Nepal, Qatar and Turkey each met the necessary governance criteria.
Although the total membership of the international federation remains at 132, its make-up has been changed by the promotion of the three unions and now comprises 114 full members and 18 associate members.
The move demonstrates the continued strategic focus on the expansion of rugby’s reach across the globe, driven by a surge of interest in women’s rugby, and the development of rugby sevens in emerging nations.
Qatar and Turkey’s promotion to full member status comes three years after the two unions were admitted as associate members in May, 2020.
The news was also confirmed less than a week after Qatar claimed the men’s Asia Rugby Championship Division 2 2023 title, following wins against India and Kazakhstan in Doha.
Qatar Rugby Federation President Yousef Al Kuwari and General Secretary Abdulla Al Khater said in a joint statement: “We are thrilled and honoured to be recognised as a full World Rugby member.
“This is a momentous occasion for the Qatar Rugby Federation and a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in promoting and developing rugby in our country.
“We are excited to take our place amongst many other esteemed unions and contribute to the growth of this great sport."
Rugby has been played in Qatar since 1974, when the first club was formed, and the Qatar Rugby Federation have an ambitious strategic plan to develop the sport at grassroots level, creating a pathway from age-grade to the senior national sides by 2030.
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