The Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw took place in Sydney on Wednesday with the 24 qualified teams placed into one of six pools for the tournament, which takes place from 1 October-13 November, 2027.
One of the standout matches will be hosts Australia against New Zealand, who will meet for the first time in a Rugby World Cup pool stage. The trans-Tasman rivals, who boast five Men's Rugby World Cup titles between them, are joined in Pool A by Chile and debutants Hong Kong China. That's a bit of an anticlimax , really, as those two other teams are not strong.
Defending champions South Africa have three European opponents in Italy, Georgia, and Romania in Pool B. The battle for 2nd and and 3rd in that pool will be an almighty clash as the Azzurr, Lelos, and Oaks all will be targeting each other for those spots and they are not that far apart.
Argentina are joined in Pool C by Fiji, Spain, and Canada. Spain has been one of the most improved national teams in the past few years, but it's fair to say that Canada has a solid shot at a knockout round spot with this pool.
Ireland will tackle Scotland, Uruguay, and Portugal in Pool D. France is drawn alongside Japan, USA, and Samoa in a very competitive Pool E. Despite being in a bit of a slump, Wales has a lifeline in Pool F with England, Tonga, and a very talented Zimbabwe.
A Closer Look
POOL A (NZL, AUS, CHI, HKC)
Australia and New Zealand are drawn together in a pool for the first time. This will be their first RWC meeting since the 2015 final won 34-17 by New Zealand at Twickenham.
The Wallabies will face a South American team for the fifth time in a pool after Argentina (1991 and 2003) and Uruguay (2015 and 2019) Two of New Zealand’s titles came after facing a South American team in a pool (Argentina in 1987 and 2015) Chile will face three new teams on the Rugby World Cup stage.
They have a won one, lost one record against Hong Kong China, the only team in their pool that they have faced before Hong Kong China will be the 27th national team to play in a Men’s Rugby World Cup. The country's women were also drawn in a pool with New Zealand for their Rugby World Cup debut in 2017, losing 121-0 in Dublin.
POOL B (RSA, ITA, GEO, ROM)
South Africa are drawn in Pool B for the third successive tournament and have always been in a pool with at least one European nation. This is the second tournament in a row they will face three European nations after meeting Ireland, Scotland and Romania at RWC 2023.
Italy are drawn in a pool with Georgia for the first time Georgia will face South Africa for the first time since their debut tournament in 2003 in Australia, a match they lost 46-19 in Sydney.
Italy will meet the Springboks for the second time, having lost 49-3 in their RWC 2019 encounter in Japan It will be a third tournament in a row that Italy face an African opponent, having also met Namibia in 2019 and 2023.
Romania have lost to all three of their pool opponents at a Rugby World Cup (Georgia in 2011, Italy in 2007 and 2015 and South Africa in 1995 and 2023).
POOL C (ARG, FJI, ESP, CAN)
Argentina and Fiji met in their first-ever Rugby World Cup match in 1987, the Pacific Islanders winning 28-9 in Hamilton. They have not been drawn in a pool together since then.
Los Pumas have never met Canada or Spain on the Rugby World Cup stage and it is 22 years since their last test against Canada, a 62-22 win in Buenos Aires. Argentina beat Spain 62-3 in August 2023.
Canada have faced their other two pool opponents this year, losing 24-23 to Spain in July and 63-10 to Fiji in September Fiji and Canada last met at a Rugby World Cup in 2007, the Fijians winning 29-16.
Canada will face a Pacific islands nation for the first time since they beat Tonga 25-20 at at RWC 2011 Spain and Fiji met last month, the Pacific Islanders running out 41-33 winners in Malaga Spain faced a South American team in their first RWC match in 1999, losing 27-15.
They will face these three teams for the first time on the Rugby World Cup stage.
POOL D (IRE, SCO, URU, POR)
Ireland and Scotland are paired together for the third tournament in a row and fourth time in total. Scotland ran out winners in 1991 but Ireland triumphed in both 2019 and 2023.
Ireland have never faced Uruguay or Portugal on the Rugby World Cup stage, but posted their record win in test rugby against the latter earlier this year (106-7) They will face a South American team in a pool for the first time since Argentina in 2007.
Portugal and Uruguay will meet for the first time at a Rugby World Cup Scotland’s only previous meetings with Uruguay and Portugal both came in the debut tournaments for those teams, in 1999 and 2007 respectively.
Portugal’s first-ever Rugby World Cup match was against Scotland, a 56-10 defeat Os Lobos have now been paired with at least two European teams in each of their three tournaments .
