The road to the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup will begin to take shape this Wednesday as the all-important pool draw is conducted in Sydney. For the first time, the tournament will expand to feature 24 teams, introducing a round of 16 and altering the strategic landscape for every nation dreaming of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.
A Bigger Tournament: The New 24-Team Format
Scheduled to kick off on 1 October 2027, the competition in Australia marks a significant departure from the past two decades. Moving on from the 20-team structure used since 2003, the event will now host 52 matches, up from 48. Instead of four pools of five, there will be six pools of four teams.
While the eventual champion will still need to win seven matches, they will play one fewer pool game. The knockout stage will now begin with a round of 16, for which the top two teams from each of the six pools will qualify, joined by the four best third-placed teams.
How the Draw Works: Bands, Hosts, and Potential Pitfalls
The draw, taking place at 9am UK time on Wednesday, will split teams into four bands based on their world ranking. As hosts, Australia are automatically placed in Pool A and will open the tournament at Perth Stadium. Their Band 2 status, confirmed after a winless Autumn Nations series, means they are destined to face a heavyweight from Band 1: either South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, or Argentina.
England's rise to third in the world, powered by an 11-match winning streak, and Ireland's slip to fourth are key recent shifts. For Scotland and Wales, the draw held tension. Scotland's hopes of reaching Band 1 were ended by a defeat to Argentina, while Wales clung to Band 2 by the narrowest of margins, thanks largely to a late 24-23 victory over Japan in Cardiff, avoiding a drop into Band 3.
Dark Horses and Compelling Stories in the Lower Bands
The expanded format brings more nations into the spotlight. Band 3 features dangerous sides like Georgia (ranked 13th) and the traditionally tough Uruguay, alongside Spain, the USA, Chile, and Tonga. Band 4 includes Samoa, Portugal, Romania, debutants Hong Kong China, Zimbabwe, and Canada.
Portugal's return will be eagerly watched after their thrilling 2023 campaign, which included a dramatic win over Fiji. One of the most intriguing personal narratives could see Manu Tuilagi, who will become eligible for Samoa in early 2027, potentially lining up against his former team, England, if the draw pairs them.
Navigating the New Knockout Ladder
The new format creates a nuanced path through the latter stages. The winners of Pools A, B, C, and D will face a third-place team in the round of 16, seemingly an easier task. Meanwhile, the winners of Pools E and F will play a runner-up. World Rugby states this initial imbalance is addressed in the quarter-finals, where the draw rebalances. Notably, the winners of Pools E and F cannot face another pool winner until the semi-finals.
With the draw made, favourites can start planning in earnest. South Africa, as back-to-back champions, will be strongly fancied for a historic third straight title, but an improving England under Steve Borthwick will be confident of a deep run. For the Wallabies and every other nation, Wednesday's draw in Sydney is the first crucial step on the long road to 2027.
