Overview
- Pool A features hosts Australia with New Zealand, Chile and Hong Kong China, with Hong Kong China set for a first Rugby World Cup appearance.
- Defending champions South Africa headline Pool B alongside Italy, Georgia and Romania, while Pool F pairs England with Wales plus Tonga and Zimbabwe.
- The reworked format creates six pools of four, advancing six winners, six runners-up and the four best third-placed teams to a new round of 16.
- The tournament runs from October 1 to November 13, 2027 across seven Australian cities: Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney and Townsville.
- Organisers will release the full match schedule on February 3, 2026, with a two-week fan presale to follow in mid-February.