Rugby World Cup 2027 – What Changes Have Been Made

On 24 October 2023, World Rugby confirmed that the RWC 2027 to be held in Australia will be expanded to 24 men’s teams as well as a new format. So what changes have been made to the tournament?

The format of the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, as well as the window and timing, have seen the biggest revamp since the men’s competition was introduced in 1987.

The 11th edition of the tournament will see the world’s top 24 teams compete for the Webb Ellis Cup and will take place six weeks from 1 October to 13 November 2027. The dates have been agreed to be pushed back a fortnight so the event does not clash with the more popular AFL and League Grand Finals in Australia.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “This incredible Rugby World Cup 2023 tournament has demonstrated the passion and potential that lies beyond the top 10 or 12 nations, if we think big and think inclusive. It is not acceptable to accept the status quo. Not acceptable to do nothing.

The decision to expand Rugby World Cup 2027 to 24 teams is logical and the right thing to do. Underpinned by a new global calendar that increases certainty and opportunity, we are focused on raising standards, closing the gaps and creating a spectacle that fans demand to see. With its love of sport and major events, Australia is the perfect place to do just that.”

RWC 2027 Format

The format for RWC 2027 according to World Rugby:

• Six pools of four teams.
• New reduced six-week (seven-weekend) Rugby World Cup window
• The pool phase is reduced from five to four weeks – respects the same minimum number of rest days between matches as at France 2023.
• Round of 16 to be introduced with the top two teams from each pool automatically qualifying along with the best four third-placed teams.

Details of the qualification process for Rugby World Cup 2027 will be determined following a full review of France 2023 and consultation with unions and regions.

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin added: “A reduced pool phase with a more regular cadence of matches and the introduction of a round of 16 makes for a compelling and competitive pool phase where every match counts. To be able to achieve this new format in a reduced window while preserving important player welfare considerations is a huge step forward for the game and great for fans and players.”

Rugby World Cup Pool Draw Date

The World Rugby Council agreed to have the Pool Draw for RWC 2027 as late as possible “to best reflect global competitiveness.”

Alan Gilpin, World Rugby CEO, added, “We’ve taken the view for the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027 that waiting until after the November internationals in 2026 would be too late. I think it would put ticket sales at risk and that puts the financing of the tournament at risk. I think fans would be very frustrated at that outcome of not being able to plan with any certainty with less than a year to a Rugby World Cup. And it would make a real challenge, particularly at a time of expansion to 24 teams, to plan for the infrastructure that is needed for that expansion.

“So, the moment we’ve taken the decision not to go as late as effectively 10 months before a Rugby World Cup then we are back to January 2026. So, hopefully again it’s a compromise but a better one than we have now.”

Will Emerging Nations Be Guaranteed RWC Warm-Up Games Against Established Rugby Nations

There were many questions put forward to World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont and CEO Alan Gilpin at a media conference on 24 October 2023 when the announcements were made.

In addition to the RWC 2027 format changes, were the new calendar for the men’s game and would Emerging Nations (Tier 2 as most call them) still be able to play top-tier competition?

Gilpin said “There is more work to do on that. But we are really keen to make sure that happens as quickly as possible once the competitions have had the chance to become established. This is about looking at other years – traditionally what we have called ‘Lions years’ and the Rugby World Cup years – and populating those periods with fixtures that allow those possibilities and that the high-performance unions agreeing that some of their Rugby World Cup warm-up matches have to be against those other teams.”

Australia Hosting RWC 2027 – What To Expect

Image Credit: World Rugby

Chris Stanley, Managing Director, Rugby World Cup Australia Local Operating Company told World Rugby recently after spending time at the France RWC 2023: “I think this Rugby World Cup has demonstrated why it’s such a great event – fantastic crowds at every game and smashing records across every metric.

There are always things that you take away from seeing a Rugby World Cup in action. There will always be a few things that you look at and go, ‘They’ve done that really well’. I mean, the Rugby Village at Place de la Concorde, that’s the largest rugby village that’s ever been built. And we’ll have to consider is that something we could try and recreate or we would do slightly differently in 2027?

“On the flip side, there are always things that you look at and go, ‘Well, I don’t think we will do that’ because it may or may not have worked as well as it could have done. But no, I think we will always take some learnings away from a World Cup.”

Chris Stanley, Managing Director, Rugby World Cup Australia Local Operating Company

He said of what fans can expect in Australia in 2027: “What we want to do is work with our government partners and all of the various host destinations, from one side of the country to the other. From top to bottom, east to west, there’s very different geography, there’s amazing sights to see.”

He added that they are confident Australia will welcome 200,000 international visitors, and generate AUD $2.5 billion in direct and indirect economic impact to the Australian economy.

Rugby Australia will be hosting the British and Irish Lions in 2025, the men’s [Rugby World Cup] in 2027, and the women’s RWC in 2029, before the Olympics in 2032 with the Sevens rugby.

Rugby World Cup Tournament News

• Rugby World Cup 2023 – The Final.
• Is The New Aligned Rugby Calendar Good For The Sport?
• RWC 2025 Host Cities.
• Rugby World Cup 2023 Social Impact.