World Rugby has confirmed the structure and dates for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, promising the biggest tournament in the competition’s history. The event will begin on 1 October at Perth Stadium and run for 43 days, with the final set for 13 November in Sydney.

The field will expand to 24 teams, divided into six pools of four. The top two in each pool will progress to a new Round of 16, joined by the four best third-placed finishers. Despite the extra knockout round, finalists will still play seven matches, thanks to smaller pools and a guarantee of at least five rest days between fixtures.

A total of 52 games will be staged across seven cities: Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney, and Townsville. The official draw will take place in Sydney on 3 December 2025, with seedings determined by the World Rugby rankings at that time. As hosts, Australia are already confirmed in Pool A, though their seeding will depend on their position in the rankings on draw day.

Twelve nations qualified automatically by finishing in the top three of their pools at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, while eleven more have since secured places through regional pathways. The last spot will be decided at a final qualification tournament in Dubai this November. This tournament will feature Samoa, Belgium, Namibia, and either Brazil or Paraguay.

Organisers say the expanded tournament will bring a fresh competitive edge while maintaining the balance of tradition, offering rugby fans worldwide a spectacle on an unprecedented scale.