Ollie Chessum reckons the mayhem of a Lions tour has persuaded him to take a more relaxed attitude with another Prem and international season looming. The post Ollie Chessum opts for relaxed approach appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
Ollie Lawrence returned to the England fold this week for a three-day training camp after six months out with an Achilles injury. The post Ollie Lawrence back in running for England ahead of autumn Tests appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
Pacific Nations Cup FIJI and Japan won their semi-finals convincingly to secure a place in today’s Pacific Nations Cup title decider – a repeat of the 2024 final. Fiji, ninth in the global rankings, saw off Canada 63-10, while world No.13 Japan beat Tonga 29-13. Brave Blossoms’ head coach Eddie Jones said before the tournament […] The post Fiji and Japan in final face-off appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
By Peter Ryan “Oh, I don’t know where we’re going, but I know we’ll find our way.” In Old Man Grace, Scottish singer-songwriter Nathan Evans sings of life’s journey and the importance of treasuring each moment. For athletes, it is a familiar truth: the delicate balance between striving to prove themselves and pausing to savour […] The post Netherlands international Vikas Meijer’s journey into rugby union appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
Steve Borthwick has restructured his England coaching team ahead of the Nations Series, with Lee Blackett joining from Bath as attack coach. The post England add Lee Blackett as attack coach appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
Pacific Nations Cup TONGA take on Japan, and defending champions Fiji face Canada in the semi-finals today in Denver. Earlier in the day, Samoa and the USA will contest fifth place, with the added incentive of automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup. Tonga have already secured RWC qualification following Samoa’s defeat to Fiji last […] The post Tonga gunning for final spot as they face Japan appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
Fiji underlined their tournament dominance with a commanding 29-15 victory over Samoa in Rotorua, securing back-to-back wins and tightening their grip on top spot in Pool A. The contest opened at a frantic pace as Samoa, roared on by a strong Pacific crowd, struck first through Pita Anae-Ah Sue’s close-range effort inside three minutes. Rodney […] The post Fiji too good for Samoa as they look to retain Pacific Nations Cup crown appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
Pacific Nations Cup ■By BEN JAYCOCK EDDIE Jones’ Japan opened their Pacific Nations Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, moving straight to the top of Pool B after dismantling Canada 57-15 in a record win. Ranked 11 places above Canada, the Brave Blossoms ran in seven second-half tries and scored 33 unanswered points in just 20 […] The post Canada can’t keep up with lively Japan appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
This weekend’s matches are packed with high stakes and even higher intensity, as teams fight for knockout spots, World Cup qualification, and national pride. But beyond the final scores, it’s the head-to-head battles across the park that could shape the outcomes. Whether it’s centres trying to outmuscle each other, back-row players clashing over the gain […] The post Best Head-to-Head Matchups of the Weekend in the Women’s World Cup and Pacific Nations Cup appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
A busy weekend of international rugby awaits, with storylines unfolding across both hemispheres. From the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England to the return of France’s Pro D2 and the next chapter of the Pacific Nations Cup, there’s no shortage of action to follow. The second round of the World Cup promises closer contests than […] The post Weekend Talking Points: Red Roses could break World Cup record against Samoa appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
Tyler Ardron scored four tries to inspire Canada to a commanding 34–20 win over 2031 World Cup hosts, the USA, in their Pacific Nations Cup opener in Calgary. Canada started fast with Ardron crashing over early and completing a hat-trick before half-time. Fly-half Peter Nelson added a fifth try and kicked 14 points to seal […] The post Canada 34-20: Tyler Ardron goes over for four as Canada demolish USA in Pacific Nations Cup appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
Steve Borthwick has named the 25 players awarded enhanced Elite Player Squad (EPS) contracts for the 2025/26 season, marking a key moment in England’s preparations for the next international cycle. Drawn from the wider 50-player EPS group, this core selection will receive increased support and access to national team resources under the Men’s Professional Game […] The post England’s Elite Player Squad Analysis: Eight new names including Henry Pollock and Tom Willis appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
QUALIFICATION PROCESS
BIG 12 AUTOMATIC SPOTS
> As hosts Australia qualify automatically for the 2027 tournament with another 11 teams gaining automatic qualification by finishing in the top three positions in their pools in the 2023 World Cup. Those teams are: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Argentina, Ireland, France, Wales, Fiji, Scotland, Italy and Japan. The remaining 12 spots in the 2027 expanded 24-team format will be allocated through teams competing in a global qualification process.
Four of those spots have already gone to the semi-finalists in the Rugby Rurope Championship, with semi-finalists Georgia, Spain, Portugal and Romania all qualifying for Australia 2027. The winner of the fifth-place play-off will earn a ticket to the Final Qualification Tournament in November, when one place in Australia 2027 will go to the winner of the tournament.
EUROPE – 4 TEAMS
Qualification matches: January-March 2025
> The four teams that reach the semi-finals of the Rugby Europe Championship 2025 will qualify directly for Australia 2027. Nations involved: Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Switzerland.
The winner of the fifth-place play-off will secure their ticket to the Final Qualification Tournament (see below).
ASIA – 1 TEAM
Qualification matches: June-July 2025
> The Asia Rugby Championship 2025 winners will qualify directly for Australia 2027.
Nations involved: Hong Kong China, Korea, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates.
The runner-up in the tournament will progress to the Asia/Africa Play-off (see below).
AFRICA – 1 TEAM
Qualification matches: July 2025
> The Rugby Africa Cup 2025 champions will qualify directly for Australia 2027. Nations involved: Algeria, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The runner-up in the tournament will progress to the Asia/Africa Play-off (see below).
SOUTH AMERICA – 1 TEAM
Qualification matches: July-September 2025
> The Sudamerica Rugby Championship 2025 winners will secure their place at Australia 2027, with the runner-up qualifying for the South America/Pacific Play-off (see below) and the third-placed team joining the line-up for the Final Qualification Tournament (see below). Nations involved: Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
PACIFIC – 3 TEAMS
Qualification matches: August-September 2025
> The top three teams in the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (other than already-qualified Fiji and Japan) will qualify for Australia 2027. The sixth-placed team will join the South America/Pacific Play-off (see below). Nations involved: Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the United States.
SOUTH AMERICA/PACIFIC PLAY-OFF – 1 TEAM
Qualification matches: September 2025
> A home-and-away play-off between the 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 (see below).
ASIA/AFRICA PLAY-OFF
Qualification matches: September 2025
> The Rugby Africa Cup 2025 runner-up will play the Asia Rugby Championship runner-up in a home-and-away play-off. The winner qualifies for the Final Qualification Tournament (see below).
FINAL QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT – 1 TEAM
Qualification matches: 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 comprise the Sudamerica Rugby Championship 2025 third-place team; the South America/Pacific Play-off loser; the Rugby Europe Championship 2025 fifth-placed team; and the Africa/Asia Play-off winner.
1 October-13 November 2027
Categories
BBC commentators and pundits give their views on whether England or Canada will win the Women's Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday. [...]
England's players will be fully focused on their game when they take on Canada in Saturday's Women's Rugby World Cup final - but they know what it's like to combine sport with a full-time job. [...]
Ellie Kildunne went from not having a rugby club to playing for England in four years. A World Cup win would confirm the sport's new superstar. [...]
Former England captain Jo Yapp says the Red Roses face an "extremely challenging" Canada side in Saturday's Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham. [...]
What key battles do England need to win in order to beat Canada and lift the Women's Rugby World Cup at Twickenham on Saturday? [...]
As Wales' professional sides prepare for a new campaign, they have to wonder whether the 2025-26 season will be their final one - so how are the four regions coping? [...]
How will Edinburgh and Glasgow fare in the new United Rugby Championship season? [...]
Ahead of the World Cup final, England head coach John Mitchell answers questions from his own players as they aim to find out anything and everything about the man who leads them. [...]
Former international rugby union referee JP Doyle answers your questions about officiating before the Women's Rugby World Cup final. [...]
England's Meg Jones explains how losing her parents to cancer and alcoholism has given her a new perspective on life, which has helped to drive her forward in the Red Roses' run to the Women's Rugby World Cup final. [...]
Before Saturday's Women's Rugby World Cup final against Canada, England captain Zoe Aldcroft explains how key the home crowd at Twickenham could be in helping England win the trophy. [...]
England players remember the closing moments of the 2021 World Cup final, played in November 2022, as a late stolen lineout gave New Zealand victory on home soil. [...]
Hear from Meg Jones and John Mitchell as Ugo, Sara and Claire preview the World Cup final [...]
England and Canada meet on Saturday in the Women's Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham. Here's everything you need to know. [...]
England and Canada name unchanged teams for the Women's Rugby World Cup final on Saturday at Twickenham. [...]
