Over the next two weeks, Dubai will host a crucial rugby showdown that will determine the final team to qualify for the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia. The competition, held at the city’s Sevens Stadium, features Belgium, Brazil, Namibia, and Samoa battling it out in a round-robin format.
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Only one nation will emerge on top and claim the last remaining spot in the 24-team tournament. For Samoa, this tournament represents a final chance to return to the world stage. Once a powerful force in international rugby, Samoa reached the quarter-finals twice and has featured in every World Cup since the tournament began.
However, recent results have been disappointing. In the Pacific qualifying round in September, Samoa finished last out of six teams, then suffered another setback when they lost to Chile over two legs in a playoff series. Captain Theo McFarland acknowledged the team’s struggles but insisted that the focus is now firmly on redemption.
I could sit here and talk about excuses, McFarland said. But what matters now is how we respond. The goal is simple qualify for the Rugby World Cup 2027. Namibia finds itself in a similar position. The southern African side has competed in the past seven Rugby World Cups. But now faces the possibility of missing out for the first time in three decades.
Rugby World Cup: Rugby Drama in Dubai as Ireland Faces Its Own Challenges
Their meeting with Samoa on November 13 is widely expected to decide who secures qualification. Samoa is ranked 16th in the world, and we’re 27th, Namibia coach Jacques Burger admitted. They’ve played big test matches, and most of their players are professionals competing in top leagues around the world. It’s going to be a huge challenge.
Namibia’s road to Dubai has already been a turbulent one. In July, they were stunned by Zimbabwe, losing 30–28 in the African qualifying final in Kampala. That defeat forced them into a playoff against the United Arab Emirates, which they narrowly won to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Belgium and Brazil, meanwhile, are the outsiders in this competition, both chasing a historic first appearance on rugby’s biggest stage. Brazil’s path has been particularly unusual. They were eliminated earlier this year after a heavy defeat to Paraguay in the South American play-offs.
But they were later reinstated when Paraguay withdrew for fielding an ineligible player. That unexpected twist handed Brazil a second chance, and they will open the Dubai tournament against Samoa on Saturday.
Following that, Namibia will face Belgium, a team largely made up of players based in France. The Belgians have shown promise, most notably with an impressive away victory over Canada in July. While qualification drama unfolds in Dubai, another rugby storyline has been playing out thousands of miles away involving Ireland’s national team.
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Rugby World Cup Final: World Cup History Favors Younger Squads
Their 26–13 loss to New Zealand in Chicago exposed a growing concern: Ireland’s squad is beginning to age. The starting lineup that faced the All Blacks had an average age of 30.2 years. With the overall 23-man squad averaging 29.2. Key players such as Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Tadhg Beirne, and Tadhg Furlong.
James Lowe, Josh van der Flier, Bundee Aki, Stuart McCloskey, and Garry Ringrose are all over 30. By the time the next World Cup comes around in 2027, many of them will be in their mid-thirties. It’s not an immediate crisis, but it does present a challenge for head coach Andy Farrell.
Historically, World Cup-winning squads tend to have an average age of around 27, a balance between youthful energy and experienced leadership. Ireland’s current core is trending older, which could impact recovery times, speed, and endurance across the demanding two-month tournament.
If the same Ireland lineup were to take the field in 2027, their average age would be 32, far higher than the typical World Cup-winning profile. Farrell’s loyalty to his veteran players has been a key part of Ireland’s recent success.
But there’s now growing pressure to accelerate the development of younger talent. With that in mind, discussions have already begun about what an Ireland side built around players aged 25 and under might look like.
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