Get ready, rugby fans! The Rugby World Cup 2027 draw is officially scheduled for January 2026, setting the stage a full 18 months before the tournament kicks off. But here’s the twist – plenty of international rugby action will unfold before the final teams even arrive Down Under.
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How the Draw Will Work: Rankings, Seeding & Pools
In a unique setup, the draw will rely on the World Rankings as of the end of November 2025 to determine the all-important seeding. A total of 24 teams will be divided into six pools, each featuring four teams. But here’s the kicker: this draw happens before all regional qualifiers are locked in.
The Two-World Approach: Automatic Qualifiers vs. Regional Hopefuls
Expect a split in the draw. On one side, we have the twelve automatic qualifiers from the 2023 Rugby World Cup. These teams have already stamped their tickets and will be named outright during the draw. On the other side, regional qualifiers like Africa 1, Europe 1, and others will still be up for grabs, creating an interesting dynamic.
Australia Gears Up for a Historic Rugby World Cup
The 2027 edition will be hosted in Australia – the country’s third time on the World Cup stage. Australia co-hosted the inaugural Rugby World Cup with New Zealand back in 1987 and took the reins solo in 2003. This marks the eleventh time the world’s best will gather to battle it out for rugby glory, and the Aussies are more than ready to put on a show!
With the current World Rankings in mind, let’s delve into how the 2027 Rugby World Cup will shape up via Rugby Centre.
2027 Rugby World Cup draw (Current rankings)
POOL A
- South Africa
- Australia
- Portugal
- Spain
POOL B
- France
- Fiji
- Tonga
- Chile
