 However, Italy withdrew before the tournament started to protest Joe Scuderi being ruled ineligible despite being an Italian citizen.West Africa also withdrew, leaving one of the Division Two groups with just four teams, after Canadian immigration officials refused the West African team entry into the country due to concerns the players, especially from Sierra Leone, would stay in Canada illegally after the tournament.The top three teams from the first round Division One groups went through to the Super League stage, whilst the fourth place team in each group played off against the winners of the Division Two groups.