Facts and Tidbits following Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw

Having taken place in Australia on Wednesday, December 03, the draw confirmed the six pools for the next Men’s Rugby World Cup. A range of facts and tidbits have arisen following the Rugby World Cup 2027 draw. This article goes over some as the countdown to Australia 2027 continues.

NEVER BEFORE

Australia and New Zealand are both former multiple-time Rugby World Cup Champions. notwithstanding, they have never previously crossed paths in a pool. This will change at RWC 2027 when they will both also begin international competition against Chile and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong will make their debut at a Men’s Rugby World Cup. The Asia no 2 will become the 27th team to compete in a Men’s Rugby World Cup. The group entirely consists of Pacific countries: Hong Kong joins Australia, Chile and New Zealand.

Georgia debuted at Australia 2003 while Italy have played at every Men’s Rugby World Cup. Australia 2027 will see the teams facing each-other for the first time at a World Cup. Italy will also complete an African treble. Italy faced Namibia in Japan 2019 and France 2023. Australia 2027 sees Italy facing South Africa whom they also faced in 2019.

France and Samoa are regulars at Men’s Rugby World Cups; yet, they have never previously met at a RWC. This will change in Australia 2027.

Zimbabwe return for the first time since Rugby World Cup 1991. All three of Zimbabwe’s opponents at Australia 2027 will be new: England, Tonga and Wales. Zimbabwe has previously faced Tonga once and Wales three times but has never faced England.

RWC REPEAT MODE

Ireland and Scotland are together in the same pool for the third consecutive Men’s Rugby World Cup. Ireland defeated Scotland at both Japan 2019 and Ireland 2023. On both occasions this contributed to Ireland advancing to the Quarter Finals while Scotland were eliminated at the group stage in both tournaments.

RWC 2027 will be Portugal’s third. Like RWC 2007 and RWC 2023, Os Lobos will take-on two European opponents in the pool. However, the match against Uruguay will be a first against a team from the Americas.

Australia also hosted Rugby World Cup 2003 and co-hosted the 1987 tournament with New Zealand. In both 1987 and 2003 the USA faced Japan and this will again be so in 2027. The Eagles defeated Japan 21-18 in Brisbane in 1987 and 39-26 in Gosford in 2023.

THE LONG WAIT CONCLUDES

Argentina and Fiji were opponents at the inaugural Men’s Rugby World Cup in 1987 but have not crossed paths since. Moreover, the last time they met at all was in Córdoba in 2003 with Argentina winning 49-30.

Rugby World Cup 2027 will be the second Men’s RWC involving Spain. Los Leones debuted in 1999 but were overtaken by others, notably Georgia, in following years. Controversial management of player eligibility laws from World Rugby cost Spain the opportunity of competing in 2019 and 2023.

Australia, Fiji and Wales were in the same pools at RWCs 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023. At long last, they are in separate pools for 2027. This was always going to be the case as they were all in Band 2.

SOUTH AND NORTH AMERICAN FIRSTS

Chile will compete in Pool A alongside Australia, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. Chile has played Hong Kong twice previously but has never faced either the Wallabies or the All Blacks.

Australia faced Argentina at the pool stages of Rugby World Cups 1991 and 2003 and faced Uruguay at the pool stages of Rugby World Cups 2015 and 2019. The treble will occur in Australia when the Wallabies face Chile for the first-time.

Former Pumas Felipe Contepomi and Pablo Bouza will be coaching rival teams at the World Cup. Argentina and Spain will be rivals in Pool C. Contepomi and Bouza were teammates at Rugby World Cup 2003, also in Australia.

Australia 2027 marks the second-consecutive World Cup with Los Pumas facing a fellow Spanish-Speaking country. World Rugby failed to allocate a Spanish-Speaking referee for Argentina vs Chile in 2023. Hopefully this error is not replicated in Australia 2027.

Canada and Argentina have also never faced each-other at a Men’s Rugby World Cup. Their most recent meeting was a 62-22 Pumas win in 2003.

Uruguay will have a first-ever set match against Ireland. International competition will officially begin between the Irish and Los Teros at the World Cup. Ireland’s only prior South American opponent is Argentina with the teams facing each-other in pool matches in 2003 and 2007 and beyond in 1999 and 2015.

Uruguay will also face Portugal for the first time at a World Cup tournament after previously crossing paths in RWC repechage for past tournaments. It means Uruguay play exclusively against European opponents in Australia 2027.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 – POOL A