4 December 2025–Preparations for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 reached a major milestone as World Rugby officially confirmed the six pools for what will be the largest tournament in the event’s history.
For the first time, the Men’s World Cup will feature 24 teams, competing across six pools of four, in an expanded format aimed at boosting global participation and increasing accessibility for fans around the world.
RWC 2027 Pools
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
The official draw was broadcast live on Stan Sport, 9Gem and 9Now in Australia, and streamed worldwide via RugbyPass TV and the World Rugby YouTube channel.
The event featured several global rugby icons, including World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson, All Blacks legend and two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter, former Wallabies captain James Slipper, and Olympic gold medallist Alicia Lucas.
With pools now confirmed, teams and supporters can begin preparing for the tournament, which promises to deliver the most globally inclusive Rugby World Cup to date. The full match schedule will be announced on 3 February 2026.
