EUROPE – 4 TEAMS
January-March, 2025

The four teams that reach the semi-finals of the Rugby Europe Men's Championship 2025 will qualify directly for Australia 2027. The winner of the fifth-place play-off will secure their ticket to the Final Qualification Tournament.

Nations involved: Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland

 

ASIA – 1 TEAM
June-July, 2025

The Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 winners will qualify directly for Men’s RWC 2027 with the runner-up progressing to the Asia/Africa Play-off.

Nations involved: Hong Kong China, Korea, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates

 

AFRICA – 1 TEAM
July, 2025

The Rugby Africa Men's Cup 2025 champions will qualify directly for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. The runner-up will progress to the Asia/Africa Play-off.

Nations involved: Algeria, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, Uganda, Zimbabwe and winner of the Rugby Africa Men’s Cup 2025 Repechage

 

SOUTH AMERICA – 1 TEAM
July-September, 2025

The Sudamérica Rugby Championship 2025 winners will secure their place at Australia 2027, with the runner-up qualifying for the South America/Pacific Play-off and third placed team joining the line-up for the Final Qualification Tournament.

Nations involved: Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay

 

PACIFIC – 3 TEAMS
August-September, 2025

The best three teams of the Pacific Nations Cup 2025, other than already-qualified Fiji and Japan, will punch their tickets to RWC 2027. The sixth-placed team will join the South America/Pacific Play-off.

Nations involved: Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, USA

 

SOUTH AMERICA/PACIFIC – 1 TEAM
September, 2025

A home-and-away play-off between the Sudamérica Rugby Championship runner-up and the team finishing sixth in the Pacific Nations Cup. The winner qualifies for Australia 2027 while the loser will join the Final Qualification Tournament.

 

FINAL QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT – 1 TEAM
November 2025

The final qualification tournament will comprise one pool of four teams, playing in a round-robin format with the winner - on competition points - qualifying for Australia 2027. The four teams will be comprised of the: 

  • Sudamérica Rugby Championship 2025 third place
  • South America/Pacific Play-off loser
  • Rugby Europe Men’s Championship 2025 fifth place
  • Africa/Asia Play-off winner (Rugby Africa Men’s Cup 2025 runner-up v Asia Rugby Men’s Championship runner-up)