World Rugby confirmed the Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualification process for the men’s tournament in Australia. As we already know, Asia will now have a direct qualifier from the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 – in fact, all World Rugby Regional Associations will have one minimum direct qualifying spot from tournaments played in 2025.
The expanded RWC 2027 will run from 1 October – 13 November 2027 and will be the biggest tournament yet with 24 nations. There will be 12 qualification spots available from regional competitions to be played in 2025, with 12 teams already confirmed for the tournament. All teams will be known before the Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw takes place ahead of the Men’s Six Nations 2026.
World Rugby said of the RWC 2017 qualification, “With the core principle of qualifying on merit and simplifying the process for fans and teams, the new process opens new avenues for more teams to reach the pinnacle of the sport, raising global standards along the way.
The redefined process follows extensive consultation with World Rugby’s six Regional Associations and is underpinned by the World Rugby Council’s decision in October 2023 to expand the tournament from 20 to 24 teams, reflecting the sport’s mission to supercharge global growth.”
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont added: “This qualification process is on the side of growth and sustainability for the game as a whole. We are fully committed to respecting the fundamental principle of expanded opportunity, and the blend of existing regional competitions, new cross-region competitions and a final qualification process reflects that ambition as well as the desire to deliver teams on merit.”
What To Know – Asia Qualifier For Rugby World Cup 2027
- ➡️World Rugby Regional Associations have one minimum direct qualifying spot from tournaments played in 2025.
- ➡️For Asia – this means the winner of the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 (ARMC) will qualify for RWC 2027. based on results from 2024, this should be contested between Hong Kong China Rugby, South Korea UAE and Sri Lanka.
- ➡️The runner-up of ARMC 2025 will compete in the Africa / Asia Play-off winner (Rugby Africa Championship 2025 runner-up v Asia Rugby Championship runner-up)
- ➡️ The winner of that match enters a four-team Final Qualification Tournament to be played in November 2025 for the last team to qualify for RWC 2027.
Reactions From Asian Rugby Unions
Hong Kong China Rugby, whose men have won the past five consecutive ARMC titles will be seen as firm favourites to try and qualify for their first men’s Rugby World Cup. In 2024, they beat the UAE, Malaysia and Korea to win the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship.
Hong Kong China Rugby Chairman Chris Brooke said, “HKCR welcomes World Rugby’s confirmation of direct qualification to the 2027 RWC for the winner of next year’s ARC. Competing at a men’s Rugby World Cup has long been an ambition for Hong Kong China, and today marks a huge opportunity for all Asian teams.”
Hong Kong China Rugby CEO James Farndon added, “Hong Kong China Rugby is proud to have recently moved up to 23 in the world rankings and will continue to work closely with World Rugby to optimally plan for the challenges ahead. This includes touring South America earlier this summer for test matches against Brazil, Chile and Paraguay.”
Photo Credit: HKCR -Men’s ARC 2024 winners
In addition, Hong Kong China Rugby’s General Manager of Performance, Jo Hull, highlighted what will be a critical year ahead for the representative 15s teams: “Having made it to the final repechage stage in each of the last three Rugby World Cup qualification cycles, today’s announcement presents our men’s 15s programme with its best opportunity yet to compete at the very highest level of international rugby. Our women’s 15s are also preparing for their chance to qualify for their second Rugby World Cup next summer [having competed at the Rugby World Cup 2017] as they head to the WXV3 tournament in Dubai later this year.”
Global Pathways to RWC 2027 Australia
All six regions have at least one direct qualifying spot.
- Europe (4) – Rugby Europe Championship 2025 top four teams
- Africa (1) – Rugby Africa Cup 2025 champions
- Asia (1) – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 champions
- South America (1) – Sudamerica Rugby Championship 2025 champions
- Pacific (3) – Pacific Nations Cup 2025 top three teams (Fiji and Japan already qualified so are not eligible)
- South America / Pacific Play-off (1) – Sudamerica Rugby Championship 2025 runners-up against Pacific Nations Cup’s bottom team (excluding qualified teams)
- Final Qualification Tournament (1)
RWC 2027 Final Qualification Tournament (Previously known as the Repechage)
The Final Qualification Tournament will comprise one pool of four teams, playing in round-robin format. The winner on competition points after playing all other teams will qualify for Australia 2027.
The four teams will be from:
- Sudamerica Rugby Championship 2025 third
- South America / Pacific Play-off loser
- Rugby Europe Championship 2025 fifth
- Africa / Asia Play-off winner (Rugby Africa Championship 2025 runner-up v Asia Rugby Championship runner-up)
Who Has Already Qualified for Rugby World Cup 2027
RWC 2027 will feature six pools of four teams, with a round of 16 added prior to the quarter-finals – this tournament window will be reduced from seven to six weeks
The following teams have all qualified directly by finishing top three in their pool at France 2023:
- France
- New Zealand
- Italy
- Ireland
- South Africa
- Scotland
- Wales
- Fiji
- Australia
- England
- Argentina
- Japan
Nations Championship Division 2 – 2026
The governing body also added that the qualification process will determine the participating teams for the debut of the Nations Championship Division 2 in 2026.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said, “It is our desire for the process to qualify teams into the first iteration of the Nations Championship Division 2, which begins in 2026. This has the major advantage of ensuring that all teams will have strong, high-level competition and preparation ahead of Rugby World Cup 2027, raising standards globally.”
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