The Cook Islands, pictured chasing Fiji's Nemani Nadolo during a Rugby World Cup qualifying game in 2015, have had their appeal against Tahiti playing ineligible players upheld by World Rugby.

The Cook Islands will advance to the next stage of the Rugby World Cup qualifying stages after World Rugby ruled Tahiti – coached by former Highlanders wing Romi Ropati – fielded two ineligible players in a match last year.

World Rugby issued a statement saying it had investigated the game – won 13-7 by Tahiti in Rarotonga on August 4, 2017 – after a formal request from the Cook Islands Rugby Union.

Tim Gresson, a former Timaru Crown prosecutor and ex-NZ Rugby and International Rugby Board member, investigated the claims.

"Having considered all the facts,including submissions from Tahiti Rugby Union, he determined that the Tahiti Rugby Union had breached Regulation 8 by fielding two ineligible players," World Rugby's statement said.

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Gresson ruled that the result be overturned and directed that the Cook Islands should be confirmed as winners.

The Cook Islands now progress to the next round of Rugby World Cup 2019 qualification, where they will meet the yet-to-be-determined winner of the Asia Rugby Championship ,home and away, beginning with a match in the Cook Islands on 30 June and the return leg on July 7.

World Rugby also imposed a £50,000 ($NZ98,000) fine on Tahiti – suspended for five years.

The ineligible players were two French-born backs, halfback Guillaume Brouqui, who scored a try, and first five-eighth Andoni Jimenez, who kicked a penalty.

The players and the Tahiti Rugby Union – represented by Papeete lawyer Sandra Laudon – denied the charges.

​Gresson found, in his judicial officer's report, neither player had a parent or grand parent born in Tahiti.

Gresson was "completely satisfied" that two players had not lived in Tahiti consecutively for 36 months – another key World Rugby eligibility criterion – when they first played for Tahiti.

Romi Ropati, Tahiti's coach, had declared in writing both players had been selected under the 36-month residency rule, Gresson's report said.

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Brouqui lived in Tahiti from January 2009 to February 2012 but returned to France for osteopath treatment for eight months before returning in 2013.

He was first selected for Tahiti's Oceania Cup qualifying game against the Cook Islands in 2013.

Jimenez lived in Tahiti from July 2011 to December 2014, but made his debut in July 2013, "thus not satisfying the residency requirement by approximately 12 months", Gresson said.

Both players participated in Oceania Cup tournaments in 2013, 2015 and 2017.

Laudon claimed French Polynesia was "a integral part of France" and its citizens could move freely between France and Tahiti

However, Gresson's report said it was "beyond dispute that Tahiti and France are separate member unions of World Rugby".

The two players can make submissions to World Rugby before April 9.