Stage is set for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 draw

In an expanded tournament, 16 teams will make it through to the knockout stages in Australia, meaning that all group winners and runners-up, as well as the four best third-place teams, will compete to reach the quarter-final stage.

With player welfare taken into account, the expanded number of teams does not correlate to an extra match. The change to pools comprising four teams means one fewer match in those early rounds, before addition of the last-16 fixtures. Therefore, a team reaching the final would still encounter seven tournament games. Additionally, there will be a minimum of five days’ rest in between pool stage fixtures.

Scotland, who will be drawn from the second band of countries, have competed at each of the previous 10 Men’s Rugby World Cups since the inaugural staging in New Zealand in 1987, at which they reached the last eight, through to the last iteration, in France, in 2023.

Other Band 2 teams include Australia, Fiji, Italy, Wales and Japan.

The Band 1 nations are South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France and Argentina.

The remaining countries to be drawn are: Georgia, Uruguay, Spain, USA, Chile Tonga (Band 3); and Samoa, Portugal, Romania, Hong Kong China, Zimbabwe and Canada (Band 4).

Scotland’s best performance at a Rugby World Cup came in 1991, with an agonising defeat to England denying Scotland a spot in the final, which was incidentally won by the 2027 hosts.

In total, defending champions South Africa lead the way with four Men’s Rugby World Cup titles, followed by New Zealand on three, Australia with two and England, who won the Webb Ellis Cup in 2003.

The 2027 Rugby World Cup is heading to Australia – and you can be there.

From the buzzing streets of Sydney to the sun-soaked coastlines of Brisbane and Perth, this is your chance to follow Scotland across one of the world’s most iconic sporting stages.

Join us now. Secure priority access.