Handre Pollard makes retirement decision after losing first-choice Springboks place
Rugby NewsThursday, 10 September 2026 at 11:31
Handre Pollard has already made his intentions clear over retirement, with the double World Cup winner targeting another shot at global glory with the Springboks in 2027.
The experienced fly-half faces increasing competition from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who has emerged as one of the most exciting players in world rugby and moved ahead in the battle for the No.10 jersey.
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However, Pollard has previously confirmed that reaching the next Rugby World Cup in Australia remains a major target.
Speaking to Planet Rugby, Pollard said: “It’s definitely a goal to work towards – for sure it’s the bigger goal for me to try to get there.”
The 32-year-old was realistic about what it will take to make another World Cup.
“There’s so much time, and rugby to be played, between now and then,” he added.
“If you look too far forward you’re going to stumble over the hurdles right in front of you.”
Pollard isn't finished yet
Pollard will be 33 when the tournament gets underway, but his experience could remain hugely valuable to Rassie Erasmus.
The veteran famously missed out on South Africa's initial 2023 World Cup squad through injury before being recalled during the tournament.
He went on to play a decisive role in the knockout stages, including kicking all 12 points in the Springboks' 12-11 final victory over New Zealand.
Pollard has since returned to South Africa with the Bulls following his spell with Leicester Tigers, with BBC Sport reporting his decision to head home.
World Rugby has confirmed Australia will stage the expanded 24-team tournament in 2027, where the Springboks will chase an unprecedented third successive title.
For Pollard, the target remains clear: stay fit, keep performing and give himself every chance of being there.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Every nation’s route to the 2027 Rugby World Cup final – England get dream draw
POOL A
NEW ZEALAND
Pool: Australia, Chile, Hong Kong China
Projected finish: 1st
Round of 16: Best third-place qualifier
Quarter-final: South Africa
Semi-final: France
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Round of 16: Best third-place qualifier
Quarter-final: South Africa
Semi-final: France
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
The All Blacks should progress comfortably, but winning Pool A could actually leave them with a nightmare quarter-final against defending champions South Africa.
AUSTRALIA
Pool: New Zealand, Chile, Hong Kong China
Projected finish: 2nd
Round of 16: Japan
Quarter-final: England
Semi-final: Ireland or Argentina
Final: France, South Africa or New Zealand
Round of 16: Japan
Quarter-final: England
Semi-final: Ireland or Argentina
Final: France, South Africa or New Zealand
Home advantage could make Australia extremely dangerous. Their pool showdown with New Zealand will have huge implications for the rest of their tournament.
CHILE
Pool: New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong China
Projected finish: 3rd
Round of 16: Possible qualification as one of the four best third-place teams
Quarter-final: Dependent on Round of 16 route
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Round of 16: Possible qualification as one of the four best third-place teams
Quarter-final: Dependent on Round of 16 route
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Chile's first objective will be beating Hong Kong China and then collecting enough points elsewhere to have a chance of reaching the last 16.
HONG KONG CHINA
Pool: New Zealand, Australia, Chile
Projected finish: 4th
Round of 16: Must outperform seeding to qualify
Quarter-final: Dependent on qualification
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Round of 16: Must outperform seeding to qualify
Quarter-final: Dependent on qualification
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Hong Kong China face a huge challenge on their Rugby World Cup debut, with Australia and New Zealand waiting in Pool A.
POOL B
SOUTH AFRICA
Pool: Italy, Georgia, Romania
Projected finish: 1st
Round of 16: Best third-place qualifier
Quarter-final: New Zealand
Semi-final: France
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Round of 16: Best third-place qualifier
Quarter-final: New Zealand
Semi-final: France
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
There will be no complaints about the Springboks' pool, but their projected knockout route is brutal.
If results follow the seedings, Rassie Erasmus' men could have to beat New Zealand and France just to reach the final.
ITALY
Pool: South Africa, Georgia, Romania
Projected finish: 2nd
Round of 16: England
Quarter-final: Australia or Japan
Semi-final: Ireland or Argentina
Final: South Africa, New Zealand or France
Round of 16: England
Quarter-final: Australia or Japan
Semi-final: Ireland or Argentina
Final: South Africa, New Zealand or France
Italy could be rewarded for finishing second with a daunting Round of 16 clash against England.
GEORGIA
Pool: South Africa, Italy, Romania
Projected finish: 3rd
Round of 16: Ireland if they qualify as expected
Quarter-final: Argentina
Semi-final: England
Final: France, South Africa or New Zealand
Round of 16: Ireland if they qualify as expected
Quarter-final: Argentina
Semi-final: England
Final: France, South Africa or New Zealand
Georgia will fancy their chances of pushing Italy hard for second place. If they instead progress as one of the best third-place nations, World Rugby's example permutations could send them towards Ireland.
ROMANIA
Pool: South Africa, Italy, Georgia
Projected finish: 4th
Round of 16: Must outperform seeding to qualify
Quarter-final: Dependent on qualification
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Round of 16: Must outperform seeding to qualify
Quarter-final: Dependent on qualification
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Romania will need at least one significant upset to put themselves into serious last-16 contention.
POOL C
ARGENTINA
Pool: Fiji, Spain, Canada
Projected finish: 1st
Round of 16: Best third-place qualifier
Quarter-final: Ireland
Semi-final: England
Final: France, South Africa or New Zealand
Round of 16: Best third-place qualifier
Quarter-final: Ireland
Semi-final: England
Final: France, South Africa or New Zealand
Argentina have one of the trickiest pools of the top seeds because of Fiji.
Win it, though, and a huge quarter-final against Ireland could await.
FIJI
Pool: Argentina, Spain, Canada
Projected finish: 2nd
Round of 16: Wales
Quarter-final: France
Semi-final: South Africa or New Zealand
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Round of 16: Wales
Quarter-final: France
Semi-final: South Africa or New Zealand
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Fiji's potential path is fascinating.
A likely Round of 16 clash against Wales could be followed by France and then potentially one of South Africa or New Zealand.
SPAIN
Pool: Argentina, Fiji, Canada
Projected finish: 3rd
Round of 16: New Zealand if they qualify in the expected third-place permutation
Quarter-final: South Africa
Semi-final: France
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Round of 16: New Zealand if they qualify in the expected third-place permutation
Quarter-final: South Africa
Semi-final: France
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Spain have a realistic target of beating Canada and attempting to collect enough points to qualify among the best third-placed teams.
CANADA
Pool: Argentina, Fiji, Spain
Projected finish: 4th
Round of 16: Must outperform seeding to qualify
Quarter-final: Dependent on qualification
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Round of 16: Must outperform seeding to qualify
Quarter-final: Dependent on qualification
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Canada's meeting with Spain could prove crucial if they are to upset the expected finishing order.
POOL D
IRELAND
Pool: Scotland, Uruguay, Portugal
Projected finish: 1st
Round of 16: Best third-place qualifier
Quarter-final: Argentina
Semi-final: England
Final: France, South Africa or New Zealand
Round of 16: Best third-place qualifier
Quarter-final: Argentina
Semi-final: England
Final: France, South Africa or New Zealand
Ireland could hardly accuse the draw of giving them an easy ride.
Argentina could await in the last eight before a potential semi-final against England.
SCOTLAND
Pool: Ireland, Uruguay, Portugal
Projected finish: 2nd
Round of 16: France
Quarter-final: Fiji or Wales
Semi-final: South Africa or New Zealand
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Round of 16: France
Quarter-final: Fiji or Wales
Semi-final: South Africa or New Zealand
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Scotland's clash with Ireland could be enormous.
Second place potentially sends them straight into a Round of 16 showdown with France.
URUGUAY
Pool: Ireland, Scotland, Portugal
Projected finish: 3rd
Round of 16: South Africa if they qualify in the expected third-place permutation
Quarter-final: New Zealand
Semi-final: France
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Round of 16: South Africa if they qualify in the expected third-place permutation
Quarter-final: New Zealand
Semi-final: France
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Uruguay's clash with Portugal could effectively become a shootout for third place and possible qualification.
PORTUGAL
Pool: Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay
Projected finish: 4th
Round of 16: Must outperform seeding to qualify
Quarter-final: Dependent on qualification
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Round of 16: Must outperform seeding to qualify
Quarter-final: Dependent on qualification
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Portugal were one of the great entertainers of the 2023 tournament and will believe they can upset the projected order.
POOL E
FRANCE
Pool: Japan, USA, Samoa
Projected finish: 1st
Round of 16: Scotland
Quarter-final: Fiji or Wales
Semi-final: South Africa or New Zealand
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Round of 16: Scotland
Quarter-final: Fiji or Wales
Semi-final: South Africa or New Zealand
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
France have arguably the most manageable route of the leading contenders until the semi-finals.
Then things get very serious.
South Africa or New Zealand could stand between Les Bleus and another World Cup final.
JAPAN
Pool: France, USA, Samoa
Projected finish: 2nd
Round of 16: Australia
Quarter-final: England
Semi-final: Ireland or Argentina
Final: France, South Africa or New Zealand
Round of 16: Australia
Quarter-final: England
Semi-final: Ireland or Argentina
Final: France, South Africa or New Zealand
Japan could face hosts Australia in the first knockout round before potentially running into England.
USA
Pool: France, Japan, Samoa
Projected finish: 3rd
Round of 16: Possible best-third qualification; opponent depends on the final combination of qualifiers
Quarter-final: Dependent on Round of 16
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Round of 16: Possible best-third qualification; opponent depends on the final combination of qualifiers
Quarter-final: Dependent on Round of 16
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
USA will have their eyes firmly on the Japan and Samoa matches as they attempt to sneak into the knockout stages.
SAMOA
Pool: France, Japan, USA
Projected finish: 4th
Round of 16: Must outperform seeding to qualify
Quarter-final: Dependent on qualification
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Round of 16: Must outperform seeding to qualify
Quarter-final: Dependent on qualification
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Samoa will see their meetings with Japan and USA as opportunities to completely overturn the seedings.
POOL F
ENGLAND
Pool: Wales, Tonga, Zimbabwe
Projected finish: 1st
Round of 16: Italy
Quarter-final: Australia or Japan
Semi-final: Ireland or Argentina
Final: France, South Africa or New Zealand
Round of 16: Italy
Quarter-final: Australia or Japan
Semi-final: Ireland or Argentina
Final: France, South Africa or New Zealand
This is where England's draw begins to look particularly inviting.
Winning Pool F would guarantee Borthwick's men a meeting with the runner-up from Pool B, which on seeding would be Italy.
Australia or Japan could then await in the quarter-finals before England encounter their first fellow Band One nation, likely Ireland or Argentina, in the semi-final.
England could therefore reach the World Cup final without playing South Africa, New Zealand or France.
WALES
Pool: England, Tonga, Zimbabwe
Projected finish: 2nd
Round of 16: Fiji
Quarter-final: France
Semi-final: South Africa or New Zealand
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Round of 16: Fiji
Quarter-final: France
Semi-final: South Africa or New Zealand
Final: England, Ireland or Argentina
Wales' projected route is considerably tougher.
Assuming they finish behind England, Fiji could await immediately before a potential quarter-final against France.
TONGA
Pool: England, Wales, Zimbabwe
Projected finish: 3rd
Round of 16: Possible best-third qualification; opponent depends on final third-place permutations
Quarter-final: Dependent on Round of 16
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Round of 16: Possible best-third qualification; opponent depends on final third-place permutations
Quarter-final: Dependent on Round of 16
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Tonga's showdown with Wales could have major implications.
A victory could move them into the top two, while third place may still be enough to reach the knockout stages.
ZIMBABWE
Pool: England, Wales, Tonga
Projected finish: 4th
Round of 16: Must outperform seeding to qualify
Quarter-final: Dependent on qualification
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Round of 16: Must outperform seeding to qualify
Quarter-final: Dependent on qualification
Semi-final: Dependent on bracket
Final: Dependent on bracket
Zimbabwe return to the Rugby World Cup for the first time since 1991 and will head into Pool F as the lowest-ranked seed.
Getting the better of Tonga would give them hope of extending their tournament beyond the pool stage.
PROJECTED QUARTER-FINALS
If the tournament follows the seedings, the knockout picture could feature some enormous clashes:
New Zealand v South Africa
France v Fiji
Argentina v Ireland
England v Australia
That would leave projected semi-finals of:
France v South Africa/New Zealand
England v Ireland/Argentina
It is why England may feel they have been handed the biggest opportunity of the leading World Cup contenders.
South Africa and New Zealand could have to eliminate one another before facing France, while England potentially avoid all three until the final.
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