“Strategic planning and squad depth will be more important than ever under the shorter pool format”
The pools for the 2027 Rugby World Cup have been announced after the live draw in Sydney. This edition will feature 24 teams, up from 20, divided into six pools of four teams each.
From each pool, the top two teams and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the Round of 16. Each team will play three pool matches before the knockout stage begins.
The tournament will take place in Australia from 1 October to 13 November 2027.
Pool Draw
Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong China
Pool B: South Africa, Italy, Georgia, Romania
Pool C: Argentina, Fiji, Spain, Canada
Pool D: Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay, Portugal
Pool E: France, Japan, USA, Samoa
Pool F: England, Wales, Tonga, Zimbabwe
Key matchups include Australia vs New Zealand in Pool A, England vs Wales in Pool F, and Ireland vs Scotland in Pool D.
The new format allows more teams to participate and increases the number of knockout games, making the tournament more exciting.
