- There are 500 days until the beginning of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
- The Rugby World Cup will take place in Australia, kicking off in October 2027.
- The tournament will be expanded to 24 teams for the first time.
There are now 500 days until the start of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and with this in mind, let’s look at five things that could be incredible, exciting or new for the upcoming tournament.
1- Springboks chase a third in a row
South Africa have won the last two Rugby World Cups and became the first team to ever win four World Cups in total. There have only been four nations that have won a World Cup, and only two have won back-to-back titles. If the Springboks won in Australia in 2027, they would set more records, winning three in a row and extending their lead as the team with the most titles. They remain as World Number Ones and continue to develop their squad with young stars like Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu heading towards the peak of their powers for the 2027 tournament.
2- The round of 16
The World Cup has been expanded to 24 teams, and therefore, an additional round has been added to the tournament. The teams have been split into six pools of four teams. The top two will qualify for the knockout stages, with the four best third-placed teams also reaching the knockout stages. This might work out well for Ireland, who have failed to win a single knockout game in the history of the Rugby World Cup.
3- New teams at the Rugby World Cup 2027
The expanded format of the competition will see a much wider variety of nations coming into the tournament. Hong Kong will play in the tournament for the first time, while Spain and Chile will play in the Rugby World Cup for the second time.
4- The venue of classics
Australia has been the host to the 2003 World Cup and was also a joint host along with New Zealand in 1987. These tournaments were incredible editions of the World Cup. The 1987 tournament was the first, and the 2003 tournament was famous for the winning kick by Jonny Wilkinson on his weak foot.
5- Group stage rivalries
The draw for the group stage has taken place, and while the groups will see the top two teams progress, there are some top-tier rivalries that will face off. Group A will see Australia and the All Blacks face off. Group B features the Springboks, but the big game will be between Italy and Georgia, who many have called for to compete for a place in the Six Nations. Ireland and Scotland will bring a Celtic flair to Group D. England and Wales will play in the final match of Group F.
