The draw for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 is set to take place in Sydney this Wednesday. Marking the first major milestone on the road to the expanded tournament. For the first time in the competition’s history, 24 teams will be involved, and they will be arranged into six pools, with four teams in each group.
Don’t miss your chance to grab Rugby World Cup Tickets from eticketing.co. Witness the world’s best rugby nations compete for the Webb Ellis Cup across Australia’s iconic stadiums. Book early for the best seats and experience the thrill of world-class rugby!
Fans around the world will be able to watch the draw live, with coverage available on Stan Sport, 9Gem, and 9Now in Australia. It will also be streamed worldwide on RugbyPass TV and the official World Rugby YouTube channel, beginning at 8 pm AEDT, which is 9 am for viewers in Ireland. The host nation, Australia, will open the tournament at Perth Stadium on October 1, 2027.
This match will officially usher in a new era for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, both in terms of structure and guess. Since the 2003 event, the competition has usually featured 20 teams divided into four pools of five. Under that system, each team played four pool matches, and the top two teams from every group advanced straight to the quarter-finals, which served as the first wow round.
However, the 2027 edition brings four additional teams, and with that expansion comes a reimagined format. The most significant change is the introduction of a round of 16, which will replace the quarter-finals as the first stage of knockout rugby.
Just as the Rugby World Cup 2027 will ignite Australia with excitement, football fans are counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026. Two global tournaments. One shared passion. Explore fixtures, venues, and FIFA World Cup Tickets for football’s biggest stage. Visit eticketing.co and start your journey today.
How the Rugby World Cup Round of 16 Will Work?
Under the new system, the Rugby World Cup top two teams from each of the six pools will qualify for the round of 16, and they will be joined by the four best third-placed teams. These four teams will be ranked first by competition points, and if there is still no separation, then points difference and try difference will be used to decide who advances. For supporters, the bigger tournament means even more rugby to enjoy.
Instead of the 48 matches that were played during the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, fans heading Down Under will be treated to 52 games. Importantly, though, this increase does not result in more matches for each team. Player welfare has been a major priority in shaping the new structure, and World Rugby has emphasised creating a competition that delivers drama and excitement.
Without placing additional strain on athletes. As part of this commitment, every team will receive a minimum of five rest days between games. While the knockout phase now includes additional rounds, the overall number of pool matches per team has actually been reduced.
Previously, teams played four pool matches; in 2027, they will play only three. To put this into perspective, consider South Africa’s championship run in 2023. The Springboks played seven matches in total: four pool games, a quarter-final, a semi-final, and the final. If they were to reach the final again in 2027.
Get your Rugby World Cup 2027 Tickets now on eticketing.co, the trusted platform for rugby fans worldwide. Enjoy the ultimate sporting spectacle as the tournament returns to Australia in 2027. Join fans from across the globe and celebrate rugby’s biggest event live.
Rugby World Cup Final: How the 2027 Knockout Pathways Will Work
They would still play seven matches three pool games followed by four knockout fixtures. Fans still benefit from four extra matches across the tournament, and the even pool sizes create a smoother schedule. In past tournaments, having five teams in each pool meant that one team had to sit out each round. The 2027 format eliminates these byes, ensuring a more balanced flow of games.
Despite the addition of four teams, the overall tournament will be shorter. The 2023 World Cup lasted 50 days, whereas the 2027 edition will take place over just 43 days, creating a more concentrated and fast-paced event without increasing player workloads. This new format also alters how teams progress through the knockouts. With six pools feeding into 16 knockout spots.
The matchups become more varied. The winners of Pools A, B, C, and D will face one of the third-place qualifiers in the round of 16. Meanwhile, the winners of Pools E and F will take on teams that finished second in their own pools. This structure creates a different level of difficulty across the board. Some second-place teams will play pool winners, while others will face runners-up.
Depending on how the brackets align. Although this may initially appear unbalanced, the system corrects itself in the quarter-finals. For example, the winner of Pool A may faces a third-placed team in the round of 16, but that team could meet the winner of Pool B in the next round if results go as expected.
Rugby World Cup 2027 Tickets are now available at eticketing.co! Be part of the excitement as Australia hosts the biggest rugby tournament in the world. Secure your seats today and witness the world’s top rugby nations battle for the Webb Ellis Cup. Don’t miss this chance to experience world-class rugby live in action!