The 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup (RWC), scheduled to run from October 1 to November 13, 2027, in Australia, will be the largest RWC ever. The tournament will feature an expanded field of 24 teams competing across six pools of four.
The pool draw confirmed several major group stage rivalries based on world rankings:
- Pool A features the biggest clash, as hosts Australia will face trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand. This fixture marks the first time in RWC history that the Wallabies and the All Blacks have been drawn together in the pool stage. Pool A also includes Chile and debutants Hong Kong China.
- Pool B contains defending champions South Africa, alongside Italy, Georgia, and Romania.
- Pool D confirms another recurring rivalry, with Ireland scheduled to face Scotland for the third successive World Cup pool stage.
- Pool F is headlined by the highly anticipated all-British clash between England and Wales.
The pathway to the knockout stages is set: the top two teams from each of the six pools will progress into the final 16, joined by the four best third-place nations. Pools E (France) and F (England) are strategically important because their winners avoid facing other pool winners until the semi-finals. However, the winner of Pool F will likely face the runner-up of Pool A (potentially Australia, who benefit from home advantage) in the quarter-final.
Teams and fans await the next major milestone, which is the announcement of the match schedule on February 3, 2026.