Luck was not on the side of the USA for the draw for Rugby World Cup 2027. Four years before hosting the Men’s Rugby World Cup, the USA Eagles players, staff and supporters would not have been desiring the pool that they have gotten for Australia 2027.
The USA Men’s Eagles will compete in Pool E of Rugby World Cup 2027. The group contains the 2023 hosts, France, the 2019 hosts Japan and Samoa. The USA faced France at Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan and faced both Japan and Samoa at Rugby World Cup 2015 in England.
The USA missed out on qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2023. It was the second Men’s Rugby World Cup without the USA, following 1995. Samoa was not involved in the inaugural tournament in 1987 while both France and Japan have competed at all past Men’s Rugby World Cups.
France have previously reached the Finals of multiple Rugby World Cups while Japan shocked the world by beating South Africa at Rugby World Cup 2015 before also defeating both Samoa and the USA. Japan also defeated both Ireland and Scotland at their home RWC in 2019.
Samoa are a former two-time Rugby World Cup Quarter Finalist. The team was the last to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027 after a run of losses in qualifying matches, including against the USA and Chile. The form of Samoa needs to be considered against the fact that many players will be identified and called-up, via eligibility, in time for Australia 2027.
It remains to be seen who Samoa will select for Australia 2027. The previous World Cup saw only 5/23 homegrown players on Samoa’s roster. Samoa used altered eligibility laws to its advantage by fielding former All Blacks Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua, and Lima Sopoaga and Wallabies Christian Leali’ifano and Duncan Paia’aua.
| RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 – POOL E |
FRANCE
JAPAN
USA
SAMOA
 RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 – POOLS |
| RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 – KNOCK-OUT STAGES |
