2027 Rugby World Cup
Tournament details
Host nation Australia
Dates1 October – 13 November 2027
No. of nations24[1]
← 2023
2031 →

The 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup is scheduled to be the eleventh edition of the Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men's rugby union teams. It is scheduled to take place in Australia from 1 October to 13 November 2027.

The defending champions are South Africa, who defeated New Zealand 11-12 in the 2023 final.

Expansion

Talks of expanding the tournament to 24 teams had gone on for years, but the expansion talks had intensified after the performances of emerging nations like Chile and Portugal at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and on 4 October 2023, it was reported that World Rugby decided to expand World Cup to 24 teams in order to help grow the sport.[2] Alan Gilpin, its chief executive, has thrown his weight behind the expansion plans and mentioned “very positive signs” due to encouraging performances of some lower-ranked nations during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[3] A ‘Swiss model’ pool stage similar to those adopted by the European Rugby Champions Cup and football’s UEFA Champions League or six pools of four with an additional round of 16 were under consideration.[4] The expansion to 24 teams was confirmed on 24 October.[5][6][7]

Format

Finals format

To accommodate the expansion from a 20-team finals tournament to 24 teams, the format was changed from the one used in 2023 with the addition of two extra groups in the group stage, and an extra round in the knockout phase.[8]

Development and preparations

Australia won their bid to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup on 12 May 2022.[9]

Venues

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Teams

Qualification

A total of 12 teams gained automatic qualification for the tournament by finishing in the top three of their pool at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, these positions being determined at the close of the pool stage.[10]

Qualified teams
Region Team Qualification
method 		Previous
apps 		Previous best result World Rugby
Ranking¹
Africa  South Africa Top 3 in 2023 RWC pool 8 Champions (1995, 2007, 2019, 2023)
Asia  Japan Top 3 in 2023 RWC pool 10 Quarter-finals (2019)
Europe  England Top 3 in 2023 RWC pool 10 Champions (2003)
 France Top 3 in 2023 RWC pool 10 Runners-up (1987, 1999, 2011)
 Ireland Top 3 in 2023 RWC pool 10 Quarter-finals (eight times)
 Italy Top 3 in 2023 RWC pool 10 Pool stage (ten times)
 Scotland Top 3 in 2023 RWC pool 10 Fourth place (1991)
 Wales Top 3 in 2023 RWC pool 10 Third place (1987)
Oceania  Australia Hosts 10 Champions (1991, 1999)
 Fiji Top 3 in 2023 RWC pool 9 Quarter-finals (1987, 2007, 2023)
 New Zealand Top 3 in 2023 RWC pool 10 Champions (1987, 2011, 2015)
South America  Argentina Top 3 in 2023 RWC pool 10 Third place (2007)

Bidding

See also: Rugby World Cup hosts

World Rugby was hoping to award the bids for both the 2027 and 2031 men's World Cups (along with the bids for the 2025 and 2029 women's World Cups) by May 2022. The process of talking to prospective nations began in February 2021 with the formal candidate process commencing three months later. Finalists were evaluated in February 2022.[11]

As of June 2019, Argentina, Australia and Russia had declared their interest in hosting the 2027 Rugby World Cup,[12][13] but Argentina withdrew their bid in April 2020, leaving two bidders.[14] There was speculation that the United States and South Africa would be interested in hosting the event, but the South African Rugby Union has stated that it would not be bidding for the 2027 World Cup.[15]

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont suggested in late 2018 that the host of the Rugby World Cup following the 2023 event in France could be an emerging nation.[16] World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper also suggested in 2019 that World Rugby may bid the 2027 and 2031 World Cups together (as they did with England 2015 and Japan 2019), so that they could make “a bolder decision and a traditional decision.”[17] The hosts for the 2027 and 2031 tournaments will be revealed in May 2022.[18]

The fact that three consecutive World Cups (England 2015, Japan 2019, and France 2023) will have occurred in the northern hemisphere made the southern hemisphere countries considered the favourites.[19]

On 12 May 2022, it was announced that Australia would host the 2027 Rugby World Cup.[20]

Announced bidders

Australia

Rugby Australia announced on 13 December 2017 that Australia would bid for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.[21] Australia has previously hosted the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup together with New Zealand, as well as the 2003 Rugby World Cup on its own.

Withdrawn bids

Argentina

Argentina had announced on 5 October 2016 that it would bid for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but withdrew its bid in April 2020. Argentina has never hosted the tournament before, and World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont had pledged that he would back the right of countries such as Argentina to bid for the event.[22] Argentina is the only country to reach the World Cup semi-finals that has not hosted any World Cup matches.[23] In April 2020, Argentina withdrew its bid to strengthen the Australian bid, making Australia favourites for the 2027 Rugby World Cup host.[14][24]

Russia

Stanislav Druzhinin of the Russian Rugby Union said at a meeting on 31 May 2019 that Russia would apply to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Russia would use the 2018 FIFA World Cup stadiums and legacy for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.[25][26] President Vladimir Putin backed Russia's bid to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup.[27]

Rugby Union of Russia could not proceed with its bid to host after Court of Arbitration for Sport imposed a two-year ban on 17 December 2020 on Russia hosting any major sports tournament.[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Historic rugby calendar reform to supercharge reach and competitiveness". World Rugby Council. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  2. ^ Kitson, Robert (4 October 2023). "World Rugby to reject plate competition for emerging nations at World Cups". Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  3. ^ Rumsby, Ben (27 September 2023). "Rugby World Cup organisers eye expanded 24-team tournament and new pool-stage format". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  4. ^ Kelleher, Will (27 September 2023). "Rugby World Cup could be expanded to 24 teams from 2027". Times. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2027 expanded to 24 teams ｜ Rugby World Cup 2023". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Historic rugby calendar reform to supercharge reach and competitiveness". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  7. ^ "2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia expanding to 24 teams with shorter schedule". AP News. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2027 expanded to 24 teams". World Rugby (Press release). 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  9. ^ "2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia expanding to 24 teams with shorter schedule". AP News. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  10. ^ "England among 12 teams to automatically qualify for 2027 Rugby World Cup". Ruck. 14 October 2023. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  11. ^ "USA Rugby considering bid for Rugby World Cup 2027". Stuff. 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Australia to bid for 2027 Rugby World Cup and 2021 women's tournament". Guardian Australia. 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Argentina announces 2027 Rugby World Cup bid". Rugby.com.au. 5 October 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  14. ^ a b Mulvanney, Nick (16 April 2020). "Argentina ready to abandon 2027 Rugby World Cup bid making Australia strong favourites to host tournament". The Independent. Archived from the original on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  15. ^ Richardson, James (16 August 2020). "South Africa will not bid for 2027 or 2031 Rugby World Cup – Reports". The South African. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Australia and South Africa could miss out on 2027 Rugby World Cup as Bill Beaumont says another emerging nation could host tournament". Fox Sports Australia. 20 September 2018. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  17. ^ "Rugby World Cup in sights of United States". www.insidethegames.biz. 26 September 2019. Archived from the original on 3 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2027 and 2031 hosts to be announced in May 2022". www.rugby-addict.com. 13 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  19. ^ Neville, Conor (15 November 2017). "Why France win was the worst possible result for Ireland". RTÉ Sport. Archived from the original on 12 September 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2025: England to host women's tournament". BBC Sport. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Australia bidding for 2027 Rugby World Cup". SBS News. 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  22. ^ Cleary, Mick (17 November 2017). "I will not resign, insists beleaguered Bill Beaumont in the eye of World Cup storm". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  23. ^ Tait, Paul (25 April 2017). "RWC 2027 in Argentina will cost US$200 million". Americas Rugby News. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  24. ^ Gillen, Nancy (16 April 2020). "Argentina withdraw 2027 Rugby World Cup bid to strengthen Australian campaign". insidethegames.biz. Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Russia To Bid To Host RWC 2027". 6 October 2019. Archived from the original on 3 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  26. ^ Dyachkova, Elena (31 May 2019). "Федерация регби России может подать заявку на проведение КМ-2027" [Russian Rugby Federation will apply to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup]. Ria (in Russian). Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  27. ^ "Vladamir Putin has backed Russian bid to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup". 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  28. ^ "Россия не сможет претендовать на проведение Кубка мира по регби из-за решения CAS" (in Russian). 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
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