Russia’s hopes of competing in the 2027 Rugby World Cup have been officially dashed, continuing their exclusion from international rugby.
Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
WORLD RUGBY’S DECISION:
The country remains suspended from international and cross-border competitions due to its invasion of Ukraine, a decision that also saw Russia banned from the 2023 tournament in France.
Russia’s ambitions to host rugby’s biggest stage
In 2020, Russia boldly announced plans to bid for the 2027 World Cup, even gaining support from President Vladimir Putin. The Russian Rugby Federation (RRF) envisioned using stadiums from the 2018 FIFA World Cup as venues, hoping to build on their nation’s recent hosting experience.
The RRF established a dedicated committee for the bid and consulted with the Ministry of Sports, aiming to meet World Rugby’s criteria by year’s end. Backed by high-level political support, the bid reflected Russia’s growing interest in rugby at the time.
With the ban now firmly in place, Russia’s once-ambitious rugby dreams seem to have hit a dead end.
EDITORS PICKS:
- Andy Farrell steps down as Ireland boss, replaced by former British & Irish Lion
- Nigel Owens Names the Worst Rugby Players to Referee
- Baby Alert! Liam Williams Welcomes First Child with Adorable Name Choice
- Peter O’Mahony has confirmed his retirement from rugby, he’s not changing his mind
- Jason Leonard’s Ultimate Boozing XV Is as Legendary as It Is Hilarious
England get group of death for 2027 Rugby World Cup after Rankings collapse
With the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia looming large, England risks being drawn into a brutal pool stage.
This tournament will mark the first Men’s Rugby World Cup where all qualifying teams will be confirmed by the end of 2025, with the draw set ahead of the 2026 Six Nations.
If the rankings stay unchanged, here’s how England’s potential Rugby World Cup 2027 pools could shape up:
POOL A: England’s Worst-Case Scenario?
- South Africa (Defending champions and perennial powerhouses)
- England
- Japan
- Tonga (Physical and unpredictable)
Book VIP Six Nations Packages, Hospitality and Premium Experiences from Seat Unique.
POOL B: Host Nation’s Showdown
- Ireland
- Australia (Hosts looking for redemption)
- Samoa
- Uruguay
POOL C: Pacific Flair Meets Powerhouses
- New Zealand
- Fiji (Giants killers in recent years)
- Japan
- Romania
POOL D: A South American Shake-Up
- France
- Italy
- Portugal
- Chile
POOL E: Celtic Clashes
- Argentina
- Wales
- USA
- Canada
POOL F: Familiar Foes
- Scotland
- Georgia
- Spain
- Hong Kong
For England, avoiding Pool A and its daunting prospect of facing South Africa would be crucial. The clock is ticking for Borthwick to turn England’s form around—or the 2027 World Cup could become an uphill battle before it even begins.
Can you name every nation to compete at a Rugby World Cup?
25 different teams have made the World Cup finals at least once – but how many of them can you name?
We’ve given you FIVE minutes to see, with the number of appearances each nation has made given as a clue.
Note: this list and the total number of appearances is up to and including the 2018 World Cup – but not any of the national teams that have qualified for the 2023 tournament, which includes Chile.
The score from the geography whiz in the RUCK office to beat is 23/25. Getting 100% is achievable if you really put your mind to it.
