Rugby World Cup 2027 is once again under heavy fire following the release of the Rugby World Cup 2027 draw. With prominent South African rugby journalist Mark Keohane accusing the governing body of creating a tournament structure that unfairly disadvantages the world’s top teams. In his Sunday Times column, Keohane argues that the draw is not the result of poor planning or administrative mistakes.
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But a deliberate attempt to weaken the southern hemisphere’s traditional dominance and make the path easier for northern hemisphere nations. According to Keohane, the decision to place South Africa and New Zealand. The world’s top two-ranked teams, in the same half of the draw is too suspicious to be viewed as a coincidence. He writes that the draw is not incompetence, it’s by design.
Insisting that the structure tilts the competition in favour of Europe. By forcing the Springboks and All Blacks onto a collision course before the semifinals, Keohane believes World Rugby has created an unfair imbalance that damages the credibility of the tournament. The most controversial outcome is the possibility that the sport’s two giants could meet as early as the quarter-finals.
Between them, the Springboks and All Blacks have won seven of the ten Rugby World Cup titles since the tournament began in 1987. For many fans, a quarter-final showdown between the two most successful nations in rugby history would be an exciting spectacle. But Keohane rejects that idea entirely.
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Critic Says 2027 Draw Repeats the Debacle of Rugby World Cup 2023
Instead, he calls it sporting malpractice dressed up as tournament administration, arguing that it benefits England more than any other team. Under the current structure, England would avoid facing either the Springboks or All Blacks until the final, giving them what Keohane describes as an artificially smooth path.
He also draws comparisons to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, where the four highest-ranked teams, South Africa, New Zealand, France, and Ireland, were all placed on the same side of the draw. Keohane labels that tournament a debacle, claiming it ruined the competitive balance and overshadowed what should have been one of rugby’s greatest showcases.
In his view, the 2027 draw simply repeats the same mistake, despite the outcry that followed in 2023. Keohane goes even further by arguing that the draw reflects a deeper agenda. He notes that Europe has produced only one Rugby World Cup champion in nearly 40 years and suggests that World Rugby is trying to shift the competitive landscape through administrative decisions rather than on-field results.
For him, this makes the issue not only unfair but damaging to the sport’s integrity. His criticism carries extra weight because of South Africa’s recent dominance. The Springboks have been ranked No. 1 for three consecutive years, won the 2023 World Cup, and claimed four titles overall. If the expected quarter-final between South Africa and New Zealand does take place, Keohane urges fans to look past the hype.
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Rising Criticism Over Rigged Rugby World Cup Final Draw
Don’t praise the drama or call it fate, he writes. Recognise it as a rigged route for England that disrespects annual consistency and diminishes the credibility of the tournament. As debate intensifies, questions about the Rugby World Cup Final’s approach to tournament administration are growing louder. Many fans and analysts are asking whether.
The governing body is prioritising commercial interests or geographical balance over merit-based competition. With the draw now set, the fairness of the format is likely to remain a major talking point as the countdown to 2027 continues. The upcoming World Cup will take place in Australia, with final dates and venues still to be confirmed. The draw has already produced several high-profile matches.
Including a huge pool clash between Australia and New Zealand. South Africa, meanwhile, has been grouped with Italy, Georgia, and Romania in Pool B and enters the tournament as heavy favourites to defend their crown. Rassie Erasmus’ team completed a superb 2025 campaign, finishing the year unbeaten and sweeping the Autumn Nations Series.
New Zealand also face a challenging road in Pool A, where they will meet Australia, Chile, and newcomers Hong Kong. The All Blacks, aiming for a fourth Rugby World Cup title and their first since 2015, will be determined to bounce back after their heartbreaking 12–11 loss to the Springboks in 2023. Australia, coming off one of the worst seasons in its history, will need to find form quickly.
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