The 2027 Rugby World Cup, set to take place in Australia from October 1 to November 13, will mark a significant milestone in international rugby history. This edition will be the first to feature 24 participating teams, expanding from the 20-team format used in previous tournaments. This change reflects World Rugby’s commitment to inclusion and the global growth of the sport (rugbyworldcup.com).
Key Changes from the Previous World Cup
In addition to increasing the number of teams, the tournament format has been revised. The 24 teams will be divided into six groups of four, and a Round of 16 stage will be introduced before the quarterfinals. This adjustment will shorten the overall tournament duration from seven to six weeks while maintaining a minimum number of rest days between matches to ensure player welfare (rugbyworldcup.com).
Host Venues
Australia has designated seven cities to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup, providing a diverse experience for both players and fans:
- Sydney (Gadigal): The primary host city, staging five pool matches and eight knockout matches, including the semifinals and the final at Stadium Australia, which has a capacity of 82,000 spectators (reuters.com).
- Melbourne (Narrm): Hosting seven pool matches and two Round of 16 fixtures.
- Brisbane (Meeanjin): Hosting six pool matches, two Round of 16 games, and two quarterfinals.
- Perth (Boorloo): Hosting five pool matches, including the tournament opener, and two Round of 16 games.
- Adelaide (Tarntanya): Hosting five pool matches.
- Newcastle (Awabakal-Worimi): Hosting four pool matches.
- Townsville (Gurambilbarra): Hosting four pool matches.
These venues have been selected to showcase Australia’s rich cultural and geographical diversity, offering visitors a unique experience during the tournament (world.rugby).
Groups and Qualified Teams
As of now, 16 teams have secured their place in the 2027 Rugby World Cup:
- Qualified based on their performance in the 2023 Rugby World Cup: The top three teams from each group in 2023 automatically secured their spots for 2027. These teams are: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Argentina, France, Ireland, Wales, Fiji, Australia, Scotland, Italy, and Japan (espndeportes.espn.com).
- Qualified through the Rugby Europe Championship 2025: Georgia, Spain, Portugal, and Romania secured their spots by reaching the semifinals of this tournament (espndeportes.espn.com).
The qualification process for the remaining eight spots will take place throughout 2025, with tournaments in different regions:
- Asia: The winner of the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025.
- Africa: The winner of the Rugby Africa Cup 2025.
- South America: The champion of the 2025 South American Rugby Championship.
- Pacific: The top three teams from the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup (excluding Fiji and Japan, already qualified).
Additionally, a Final Qualification Tournament will be held in November 2025 to determine the last team to qualify (world.rugby).
With these preparations underway, the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia promises to be a landmark event, celebrating the expansion and global development of rugby while offering fans from around the world the opportunity to witness high-level competition in iconic venues.