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The qualification process for the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup in Australia began during the pool stages of the 2023 tournament in France, at which the top three teams from each of the four pools qualified automatically for the 2027 event. With an expansion to twenty four teams from 2027, a further twelve teams will qualify through regional, cross-regional play-offs and the Final Qualification Tournament.[1][2]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 30 April 2024 – November 2025 |
| No. of nations | 44 |
← 2023 2031 → | |
Unlike previous years, the qualification process will take place over two years (previously three), so that the qualified teams have a longer preparation time in the run-in to the World Cup in October 2027.[2]
Qualified teams
edit| Region | Automatic qualifiers |
Continental qualifiers |
Play-off / FQT qualifiers |
Total teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa |  South Africa (holders)
|
TBD (Africa 1) | TBD | 2 or 3 |
| Asia |  Japan
|
TBD (Asia 1) | TBD | 2 or 3 |
| Europe |
|
TBD | 10 or 11 | |
| Pacific |
|
|
TBD | 6 or 7 |
| Americas |  Argentina
|
TBD (Americas 1) | TBD | 2, 3 or 4 |
| Totals | 12 | 10 | 2 | 24 |
Qualification process
editFollowing confirmation of the twelve automatically qualified teams from the 2023 Rugby World Cup, World Rugby confirmed the qualification format for the twelve remaining places in August 2024. Of the twelve berths remaining, ten are decided by regional tournaments, one by a cross-regional playoff and the last one via a final qualification tournament.[2]
Africa
editRugby Africa will be granted one place at the World Cup, which will be awarded to the winners of the Round 3: 2025 Africa Cup (Africa 1), after a three-round phased process. The runner-up (Africa 2) advances to an African / Asia play-off match against Asia 2, to decide who progresses to the Final Qualification Tournament.[2]
Asia
editFor the first time since 2015, Asia Rugby, will be granted one place at the World Cup through the qualification process, and with Japan already qualified, a new team from Asia is guaranteed a spot in the World Cup. This team will be decided through a three-round phased process, with the winner of the Round 3: 2025 Asia Rugby Championship qualifying for the World Cup (Asia 1), whilst the runner-up (Asia 2) advances to an African / Asia play-off match against Africa 2 to decide who progresses to the Final Qualification Tournament.[2]
Europe
editRugby Europe will gain four World Cup berths through a one-round competition, the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship, where the top four teams will qualify for the World Cup (Europe 1, 2, 3, 4), whilst the fifth placed team (Europe 5) advances to the Final Qualification Tournament.[2][3]
Pacific (Oceania + North America)
editWith the recreation of the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup from 2024 across the Pacific and North America, the qualification process for Oceania and North America will be merged for the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup qualification process to create a one-round qualification process. Three berths will be available through the 2025 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup, with the top three teams outside of Fiji and Japan, qualifying for the World Cup (Pacific 1, 2, 3). The sixth remaining team in the competition advances to a South America / Pacific play-off match against South America 2, for a chance to qualify for the World Cup as the South America / Pacific play-off winner. The loser of the South America / Pacific play-off advances to the Final Qualification Tournament.[2]
South America
editIn a first, South America gains an automatic berth in the World Cup through the qualification process, which will be awarded to the winner of the 2025 Sudamerica Rugby Championship (South America 1), whilst the runner-up (South America 2) advances to a South America / Pacific play-off match against Pacific 4, for a chance to qualify for the World Cup as the South America / Pacific play-off winner. The loser of the South America / Pacific play-off advances to the Final Qualification Tournament. The third placed team (South America 3) advances to the Final Qualification Tournament.[2]
Play-offs and Final Qualification Tournament
editFollowing the regional tournaments, the next qualification stage will be two cross regionals play-off matches. A South America / Pacific play-off match between South America 2 and Pacific 4, where the winner qualifies for the World Cup as South America / Pacific play-off winner, whilst the runner-up advances to the Final Qualification Tournament as South America / Pacific play-off loser.
The other play-off match will be an African / Asia play-off match between Africa 2 and Asia 2, which the winner earning the final spot in the Final Qualification Tournament.
The final stage of the qualification process will conclude in November 2025, with a four-teamed round-robin format Final Qualification Tournament, between Europe 5, South America 3, South America / Pacific play-off loser and Africa / Asia play-off winner.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Rugby World Cup 2027 expanded to 24 teams". Rugby World Cup. World Rugby. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Qualification process confirmed for expanded Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia". Women's and Men's Rugby World Cup. 13 August 2024.
- ^ "2025 Rugby Europe Championship Calendar Confirmed". Rugby Europe.