Draw date and new tournament format revealed for 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup
2027 Men's Rugby World CupWednesday, 01 October 2025 at 09:26
Two years from today, Perth's Optus Stadium will stage the opening game of the biggest Men’s Rugby World Cup in history, kicking off six weeks of world-class rugby across Australia from 1 October to 13 November, 2027.
The milestone was marked in Perth’s Kings Park, where organisers confirmed the Rugby World Cup Draw will take place on 3 December, 2025. The draw will be broadcast live in Australia on Channel Nine, internationally via RugbyPass TV, and for the first time, all 24 competing teams will be confirmed before the draw takes place.
The final qualifier will be decided in November’s tournament in Dubai (8–18 November).
A New Format for a Bigger World Cup - first ever Round of 16
RWC 2027 will expand to 24 nations split across six pools of four teams, reflecting the sport’s global growth. The top two teams from each pool, along with the four best third-placed finishers, will advance to the knockout stage.
That means the tournament will introduce its first-ever Round of 16, ensuring more nations have a chance to reach the latter stages. Every match will matter, with rankings at the end of the November internationals used to seed teams into four bands of six before being drawn into pools.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said the expanded format was a “landmark moment” for rugby:
“The introduction of a round of 16 will deliver even more knockout rugby, ensuring every match counts and every team has the chance to make history. Expanding Men’s Rugby World Cup to 24 teams is a huge step forward for our sport.”
Ticket Sales Begin in 2026
The first tickets will go on sale in February 2026, with a pre-sale for registered fans before a wider application phase in May. A record five million tickets will be available, including one million under AUD$100, making this the most accessible Rugby World Cup yet.
Premium hospitality packages are already on sale via Rugby World Cup Experiences, offering ticket-inclusive deals for the opening match, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final.
Tournament Facts
- 24 teams, 52 matches, seven host cities across Australia
- Opening match: 1 October 2027, Perth Stadium
- Final: 13 November 2027, Stadium Australia, Sydney
- First-ever Round of 16 in Men’s Rugby World Cup history
- 5 million tickets available, with unprecedented accessibility
Economic and Sporting Impact
The tournament is expected to attract 250,000 international visitors and generate AUD$1.3 billion in direct visitor spending, making it the biggest sporting event in Australia since the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Organisers also hope it will inspire 200,000 new rugby participants in Australia by 2029, leaving a lasting legacy for the sport.
Chris Stanley, Managing Director of RWC 2027, summed up the excitement:
“Two years from today, Perth and Australia will be at the centre of the sporting world as the biggest Men’s Rugby World Cup ever kicks off. The countdown is well and truly on.”
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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