The new Men’s Rugby World Cup draw format explained

The Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw took place in Sydney, on 3 December, to determine the line-ups of the six pools of four.

The Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw took place in Sydney, on 3 December, to determine the line-ups of the six pools of four.

In addition to some long-established Rugby World Cup fixtures, the draw produced many fixtures new to the tournament and test rugby as a whole.

Using Pool A as an example, one of the greatest rivalries in world rugby will take place when hosts Australia take on the All Blacks, who at the same time, can both look forward to first-ever meetings with the two other teams in the pool – Chile and men’s Rugby World Cup debutants Hong Kong China.

Australia and New Zealand have five Men’s Rugby World Cup titles between them and will be strong favourites to progress through to the newly-introduced Round of 16 – as pool winners and pool runners-up. The same is true of South Africa and Italy in Pool B, Argentina and Fiji in Pool C, Ireland and Scotland in Pool D, France and Japan in Pool E and England and Wales in Pool F.

However, the change of format this year, to accommodate four extra teams, means that interest in the tournament will not necessarily be over for those that fail to finish in the top two. Four of the best-performing third-place finishers will play the winners from Pools A, B, C and D, determined by their finish in the pool stages, whereas the winners of Pool E and F will play the runner-up from Pools D and B, respectively.

As is standard practice, the teams will be ranked, in the first instance, according to how many competition points they have picked up. The determining factors after that if teams are tied are – points difference, points scored and tries scored, in that order. In the unlikely event that teams are still tied once those criteria have been applied, the team with the highest World Rugby Men’s Ranking, as of 18 October, 2027, will be placed highest.

Four of the best-performing third-place finishers will play the winners from Pools A, B, C and D, determined by their finish in the pool stages, whereas the winners of Pool E and F will play the runner-up from Pools D and B, respectively.

According to the Round of 16 third-place permutations, illustrated below, if Pool A provides one of the best third-place finishers (A3), they are guaranteed to face the winner of Pool C (C1). While B3, C3 and D3 are guaranteed to face D1, A1 and B1, respectively.

But if one of the best third-placed teams comes from Pool E (E3) and Pool F (F3), their opponents won’t be known until all the other qualifiers are decided. Once that is the case, the permutations table will determine who they’ll face in the Round of 16. As an example, if the four best-placed third-place teams come from A, B, C and E, the team from Pool E (E3) will take on the winner of Pool B (B1).

The World Rugby Men’s Rankings were used to determine whether teams were placed in Band 1 (team ranked first to sixth), 2 (seventh to 12th), 3 (13th to 18th) or 4 (19th to 24th) when the draw took place earlier month, with pools consisting of one team from each of those bands.

Assuming the top four-ranked sides in Band 3 at the time of the draw (Georgia, Uruguay, Spain, USA) claim the four best third-placed slots, Georgia (B3) will play the winner of Pool D. Again, if RWC 2027 mirrors the rankings, this will result in the Lelos playing Ireland 20 years on from their last tournament encounter in France. On the same basis, Uruguay (D3) would get to face South Africa (B1) and Spain (C3) would be up against New Zealand (A1). As mentioned above, USA (E3) would have to wait until the identity of the other best-placed teams is revealed before knowing their fate.

While, for now, the 11th edition of Men’s Rugby World Cup still feels some time away (1 October – 13 November, 2027), the draw has generated a huge amount of excitement and interest. And supporters will soon be able to plan their trips to Australia, as the match schedule will be announced on 3 February, 2026, with tickets going on sale on 18 February.

Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will feature six pools of four and a last round of 16 for the first time. Best two teams in each pool and the four best thirds will qualify for the knock-out phase.