Bold statement: the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 is set to be the most expansive and inclusive edition in the sport’s history, and the pool draw confirms exactly how the stage will be framed for fans worldwide. Here’s how the six groups line up and what this means for teams and supporters.
Preparations for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 reached a major milestone today with the official confirmation of six pools, forming the backbone of the tournament—the largest in the sport’s history. For the first time, the event features 24 teams spread across six groups of four, in an expanded format designed to lower barriers and broaden accessibility for fans around the globe.
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 Draw was broadcast live on Stan Sport, 9Gem, and 9Now in Australia, and was streamed worldwide via RugbyPass TV and World Rugby YouTube. The event was hosted by a high-profile lineup including World Rugby Chair and former Australian international Brett Robinson, All Blacks legend and two-time RWC winner Dan Carter, former Wallabies captain and Australia’s most-capped player James Slipper, and Olympic gold medallist and former Australian Sevens star Alicia Lucas.
With the pools now confirmed, teams and fans can start planning their journey to the tournament. The next major milestone is the release of the match schedule, scheduled for Tuesday, 3 February 2026.
Rugby supporters will then have the chance to secure seats during an exclusive two-week presale window beginning on 18 February 2026 at 12:00 AEDT. To be eligible for the presale, fans must create a ticketing account by 12:00 AEDT (GMT+11) on Tuesday, 17 February 2026.
For more news and details, including how to access the presale and secure tickets, visit rugbyworldcup.com/2027.
