The draw for the men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 is scheduled to take place in Sydney on December 3 at 0900 GMT. Fans, players, and coaches alike will eagerly await the statement of the group allocations, which will determine who faces whom in the event’s opening stages. This edition will be the largest Rugby World Cup in history, with 24 squads competing, compared to 20 teams in previous editions.
Don’t miss your chance to grab Rugby World Cup 2027 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!
The expansion reflects rugby’s growing global popularity, with more nations qualifying. And increased opportunities for emerging rugby nations to compete on the world stage. AFP Sport examines how the draw will operate, the teams involved, and what the expanded format means for players, supporters, and organizers.
The 24 teams will be organized into six pools of four teams each, labelled Pools A through F. Each pool will feature a mix of top-ranked and lower-ranked nations, providing a balance of competitiveness. And ensuring a diverse range of matches across the pool stage. The top two teams from each pool, along with the four best third-place sides, will progress to the last-16 knockout stage.
This adjustment adds intensity to every pool game, as even finishing third could still offer a route into the knockout rounds, making each match crucial. For the draw, teams are divided into four seeded bands, each containing six nations based on global rankings. Band 1 features the world’s leading rugby nations: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, and Argentina.
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!
Rugby World Cup: Bands, Pools, and the Potential Group of Death
These teams have consistently performed at the highest level. And their presence in each pool will ensure competitive and thrilling matches. Each pool will also include one team from Bands 2, 3, and 4. Band 2 features strong sides, including host Australia, Fiji, Scotland, Italy, Wales, and Japan. While Band 3 contains Georgia, Uruguay, Spain, the USA, Chile, and Tonga.
Band 4 includes the lowest-ranked qualified teams, such as Hong Kong, Canada, Romania, Portugal, Zimbabwe, and Samoa. The draw will be held in a television studio in Sydney and will feature appearances from rugby legends. Including former New Zealand World Cup winner Dan Carter and Australian prop James Slipper, who retired this summer after earning 151 caps.
Their presence adds prestige to the draw and highlights the sport’s rich history. With Australia in Band 2, a theoretical Group of Death could include South Africa, Australia, Georgia from Band 3, and Samoa from Band 4. Such a group would test every team to their limits and offer fans some of the most exciting pool matches of the tournament.
The reigning Rugby World Cup champions, South Africa, sit atop the world rankings and are expected to be formidable contenders once again. At the opposite end, Hong Kong has secured its first-ever Rugby World Cup qualification. Marking a historic moment for Asian rugby and sparking new enthusiasm for the sport locally.
Get your Rugby World Cup 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: Expanded Tournament Format and Key Knockout Details
The expanded number of teams in the 2027 Rugby World Cup has introduced an extra knockout round. Bringing the total matches to 52, up from 48 in 2023. Another adjustment is the reduction of teams per pool from five to four. Slightly decreasing the number of group-stage games for each squad. But raising the stakes of every match, especially for those aiming to reach the Rugby World Cup Final.
For example, South Africa played seven matches when they won the 2023 Rugby World Cup: four in the pools. Followed by a quarter-final, semi-final, and final. In 2027, reaching the final would still require seven matches: three pool games. Followed by the round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, and final. The knockout brackets have already been mapped.
The winner of Pool E, for instance, will face the Pool D runner-up in the round of 16. The knockout phase will test strong teams early and deliver high-quality clashes for fans. World Rugby has confirmed that the Rugby World Cup 2027 event will last 43 days, slightly shorter than the 50 days of the 2023 edition, making the schedule more compact while maintaining intense action.
This will be the first men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia since 2003, when England defeated the home side in the final. After finalizing the groups on December 3, World Rugby and the local organizing committee will reveal the stadiums hosting the matches. The only confirmed fixture so far is the opening match, featuring Australia at Perth Stadium on Oct 1, 2027.
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!