A potential path to victory at the 2027 men’s Rugby World Cup will become clearer in Sydney on Wednesday when the draw for the tournament is made
Kicking off on 1 October 2027, the men’s event will feature 24 teams instead of 20, and will be the first to include a round of 16. Each tournament since 2003 has included 20 competing nations, and the previous format moved straight from the pool stage to the quarter-finals. There will be a total of 52 matches in 2027, up from 48.
Instead of four pools of five there are six pools of four. The eventual winners will still be obliged to play seven matches to claim the trophy, but will play one pool match fewer, before the last-16 game for a place in the last eight. The top two in the six pools qualify for the knockouts, plus the four best third-placed teams.
Teams are split into four bands dependent on their world ranking in the draw that takes place at 9am UK time on Wednesday. As hosts, Australia are automatically assigned to Pool A, and will play in the opening game at Perth Stadium, but everything else is up for grabs.
The Wallabies had a final chance to climb the rankings last month in the autumn internationals: but a winless trip to Europe for Joe Schmidt’s side confirmed their Band 2 status with Scotland, Fiji, Italy, Wales and Japan. The hosts, therefore, are destined to face a powerful Band 1 nation in their pool: one of South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France or Argentina. Andy Farrell’s Ireland have fallen from second to fourth this year, while England’s 11-match winning streak has seen them climb from seventh to third.
