The draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup will take place in January 2026, setting the stage 18 months before the tournament begins. This early draw will use the World Rankings as of November 2025 to seed the teams.
During the draw, the 24 teams will be divided into six pools of four. Interestingly, this draw will occur before regional qualifiers are completed, creating a unique dual-world approach. The twelve automatic qualifiers from the 2023 Rugby World Cup will be named, while regional qualifiers will be designated as Africa 1, Europe 1, Europe 2, and so on.
Australia will host the 2027 tournament, marking the third time the country has hosted the Men’s Rugby World Cup. Australia previously co-hosted the inaugural event with New Zealand in 1987 and was the sole host in 2003.
If the draw were held tomorrow, here’s a possible look at the Pools based on current rankings:
2027 Rugby World Cup draw (Current rankings)
POOL A
- South Africa
- Japan
- Georgia
- Hong Kong
POOL B
- Ireland
- Fiji
- Samoa
- Chile
