Summary

  • England and Wales drawn in Pool F alongside Zimbabwe and Tonga

  • Ireland and Scotland drawn in Pool D with Uruguay and Portugal

  • Hosts Australia to face three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A, with Hong Kong China and Chile making up the rest of the group

  • The tournament takes place in Australia on 1 October - 13 November 2027 and will feature 24 teams

  • Teams are seeded from one to 24 based on their current world rankings and then placed into six bands of four teams

  • Australia are guaranteed to be in Pool A as hosts but will face a top seeded team as they are not in the top six of the world rankings

  • The draw takes place so early for a number of reasons, including to help fans make travel arrangements, give the organisers time to stage a successful tournament and reflect current form and rankings

  • Click 'Get Involved' below to have your say

Who will win the 2027 Rugby World Cup?

Live Reporting

Written by Ben Ramsdale, Craig Nelson & Sean Byrne.

  1. Uruguay are in Pool E, with Spain taking part in their second World Cup going into Pool D.

  2. On to the Band 3 teams, Tonga are in Pool F, USA in Pool E...

  3. Romania make their 10th appearance - they go in Pool B, while Hong Kong are in Pool A, with hosts Australia.

  4. Portugal go into Pool D, and Canada in Pool C.

  5. And Samoa - the last team to qualify are in Pool E.

  6. Here we go!

    Zimbabwe are first out in Pool F...

  7. Get Involved

    Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

    Can’t say which team will win the RWC, but I can predict that Scotland won’t get out of the group stages for the third time in a row.

    Charlie in Glasgow

  8. Another quick montage now showcasing all 24 teams competing at this year's World Cup and then I *think* we'll be getting under way.

    Do not quote me on this.

  9. Get Involved - who will win the World Cup?

    Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

    Hopefully Wales can defy expectations and make it to the semis, at least - after this draw, we have one and a half years to rebuild and prepare. Putting in a good fight will show we're back. Good luck to all the home nations, though!

    Hayden, Cardiff

    At the moment there is only one standout team and that's South Africa, England are in a purple patch might not last. NZ are transitioning , Aussies are struggling Ireland are rebuilding, France good in parts but inconsistent, Scotland no depth,Wales no hopers won't get out of group. Winners SA

    William Wright

  10. 'How good would that be!'

    Dan Carter
    Two-time Rugby World Cup winner with All Blacks

    It's hard to look past a potential opening game of Australia against All Blacks in Perth, how good would that be!

  11. ICYMI: How will the draw work?

    Just a reminder that teams from four bands will be placed in six pools - four teams in each pool, one from each band.

    The top six seeds are in band one, based on the current world rankings.

    The top two sides in each pool after the group stages will progress to the knockout rounds, along with the four best third-placed teams.

    This is a reminder of the bands:

    • Band 1: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Argentina
    • Band 2: Australia, Fiji, Scotland, Italy, Wales, Japan
    • Band 3: Georgia, Uruguay, Spain, United States, Chile, Tonga
    • Band 4: Samoa, Portugal, Romania, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, Canada
    The World Cup format

  12. 'England are on fire'

    Tim Horan
    Former Australian Rugby Union player at the Rugby World Cup 2027 draw

    England have been brilliant, 11 test match wins in a row. I love how their coach Steve Borthwick has got this style and brand of exciting rugby which is exciting. England are on fire at the moment.

  13. Get Involved - who will win the World Cup?

    Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

    Anyone but England and South Africa.

    Inigo

  14. The ball pullers

    Dan CarterGetty Images

    Two-time Rugby World Cup winner, former All Black and perennial smoothie Dan Carter will be one of those tasked with plucking the balls and placing the teams in their assigned pools.

    World Rugby chairman and former Wallaby Brett Robinson, ex Australia captain and his country's most-capped player James Slipper and Rio Sevens gold medal winner Alicia Lucas will be joining him.

    Alicia LucasGetty Images

  15. We've just ticked past 9am and we've already got our first OTT montage being shown.

    Place your bets now on when the actual draw will take place...

  16. A million tickets under £50

    Harry Wilson with fansGetty Images

    Organisers have promised that there will be "a million tickets available for less than A$100 (£50) across every stage of the tournament".

    Ticket prices for adults will start from only A$40 (£20) for pool matches, except for Austalia's matches were the cheapest entry will be A$65 (£32).

    Children’s tickets starting at A$20 (£10) will be available for all matches, bar the semi-finals and final.

  17. Get Involved - 'Ireland to choke again'

    Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

    Ireland to choke again, England to play their final in the semi final yet again, but a New Zealand v South Africa final is inevitable.

    Craig

  18. Get Involved - 'England will get to the final'

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    I honestly believe England will get to the final and have a good chance at winning. There’s something building...

    Tom

    Hard to look past South Africa at the moment, but England look to be building something & France will be as dangerous as ever.

    Josh

  19. 2003 and all that

    Jonny WilkinsonGetty Images

    This will be the first time that Australia has hosted the tournament since 2003, when Jonny Wilkinson's extra-time drop-goal secured England (and the northern hemisphere's) sole title.

    Australia also co-hosted the inaugural tournament with New Zealand in 1987 and were crowned world champions twice in Europe, in 1991 and 1999.

  20. Get Involved

    Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

    Choosing the seedings based on world rankings almost two years before the tournament starts is bonkers. The excuse that it gives fans time to plan is clearly disingenuous. 2 years to book a flight and a hotel? I can do it in 10 minutes from my kitchen table!

    Alan