World Rugby has announced a reimagination of the qualification process for the men’s Rugby World Cup Australia 2027, the first event to feature 24 nations.
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With the core principle of qualifying on merit and simplifying the process for fans and teams, the new process opens new avenues for more teams to reach the pinnacle of the sport, raising global standards along the way.
The redefined process follows extensive consultation with World Rugby’s six Regional Associations and is underpinned by the World Rugby Council decision in October 2023 to expand the tournament from 20 to 24 teams, reflecting the sport’s mission to supercharge global growth.
Consideration is also being given to linking the qualification process to determining the participating teams for the debut of the Nations Championship Division 2 in 2026. This would mean an unprecedented opportunity for all qualified teams to access a high level of competition to prepare for rugby’s showcase event.
With 12 teams – France, New Zealand, Italy, Ireland, Champions South Africa, Scotland, Wales, Fiji, Australia, England, Argentina and Japan – having qualified directly by finishing top three in their pool at France 2023, 12 teams will be determined via the RWC 2027 global qualification process.
With all six regions having at least one direct qualifying spot, the new process features a blend of existing regional competitions, a pathway through the new Pacific Nations Cup, a cross-continental play-off and one final qualification tournament. In each region, teams will qualify as follow:
England set to play Wales at expanded 2027 Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup 2027 is set to be hosted in Australia, marking the eleventh edition of the Men’s Rugby World Cup and the third time it will take place in Australia. The country previously co-hosted the inaugural Rugby World Cup with New Zealand in 1987 and served as the sole host in 2003.
With the current World Rankings in mind, let’s delve into how the 2027 Rugby World Cup will shape up via Rugby Centre.
2027 Rugby World Cup draw (Current rankings)
POOL A
- South Africa
- Argentina
- Samoa
- Spain
POOL B
- Ireland
- Australia
- Georgia
- Romania