On Wednesday, after the draw was held in Sydney, Australia, the 2027 Rugby World Cup groups were decided. The competition, which will be held in Australia between October 1 and November 13, 2027, will include 24 participants for the first time in history. South Africa, two-time world champions, will try to defend the title they won in 2019 and defended in 2023. For their part, the Pumas will be looking to surprise after a fluke left them with an encouraging outlook in the formation of their zone, C, which also includes Fiji, Spain and Canada.
Each of the six regions has four teams. The system also brings novelty to the knockout stage, after the group stage: incorporating the Round of 16. Not only does this seek to increase the number of title contenders in the decisive stages, but it also seeks to enhance the importance of each match in the first round, giving greater opportunities for different countries to advance.
The winners of Groups A, B, C, and D will face the top four third-place teams, and the winners of Regions E and F will face the second-place seed from D and B, respectively. Finally, the second seed in groups A and C will compete against the second seed in groups E and F. Although the new format increases the total number of World Cup matches from 48 to 52, it does not represent a greater physical burden on those who reach the final. The team that wins the title will play seven matches as usual, which is the same number that South Africa played on its way to the title in France 2023.
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
The Rugby World Cup is a relatively new tournament, with only ten editions having been organized so far. The first was in Australia and New Zealand in 1987, which they won all blacks, Which they also celebrated as domestic in 2011 and in England and France 2015. Meanwhile, the Springboks were crowned in their home country in 1995 and also in France, Wales and Scotland 2007, Japan 2019 and France 2023. The Wallabies completed the two-star winners’ podium: Australia 1991 and United Kingdom-Ireland-France 1999; While England won the tournament in Australia 2003.