By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Having been a long-time advocate of Maro Itoje as England captain, my first reaction to […] The post Good news on Maro Itoje, but England’s problems persist appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
Steve Borthwick insists Maro Itoje can lead England into the next World Cup after appointing him captain for the upcoming Six Nations at the expense […] The post Steve Borthwick backs new skipper Maro Itoje to lead England at 2027 World Cup appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
England have been warned to expect “tough battles” when they enter the backyard of the Pumas later this year. The post Handre Pollard: Argentina will test Steve Borthwick’s England appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
The RFU will hold a special general meeting after the men’s Six Nations with chief executive Bill Sweeney facing demands for his removal. The post Bill Sweeney facing SGM following Six Nations appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
England flanker Sam Underhill is an injury doubt for the Six Nations after Bath announced that he requires ankle surgery. The post Sam Underhill to undergo surgery and miss Six Nations appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
Much time has passed since Jack Singleton's leg break sustained against Northampton two years ago and the hooker is looking to move on. The post Jack Singleton on breaking into the England set-up, again appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
Whoever makes the England Six Nations squad, to be announced on Tuesday by Steve Borthwick, I cannot imagine much in the way of change. The post Jeremy Guscott: Four changes to fire up England appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
Wales and Dragons prop Leon Brown has announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect because of a neck injury. Brown won the last of […] The post Wales prop Leon Brown forced to retire after multiple neck surgeries appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
By Paul Rees Steve Borthwick has put three outside halves on hybrid contracts and he has less than a month to decide which one to […] The post Stick with Marcus Smith, he’s the best in England appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
EXCLUSIVE By Jon Newcombe England’s summer tour will include a historic Test against the USA, as well as the already announced two-match series against Argentina. […] The post Steve Borthwick and England facing historic USA test appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
As the new year gets underway, Simon Thomas looks at six uncapped youngsters who could have big Welsh futures Dan Edwards (Ospreys) No one has […] The post Six uncapped Welsh youngsters ready to break out appeared first on The Rugby Paper. [...]
By Ross Heppenstall George Ford admits he sees himself following in the footsteps of his father and two brothers by moving into coaching one day. […] The post George Ford set to follow family line and take up coaching 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
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A potential squeeze on scholarships could put pressure on England's rugby talent pipelines and make scouts look more widely for talent. [...]
Watch Scrum V highlights as Leinster remain unbeaten in the United Rugby Championship this season with a narrow win over Osprey in Swansea. [...]
Edinburgh lose to second-bottom side Zebre at home for the first time since 2016 in a result that hugely damages the hosts' United Rugby Championship play-off hopes. [...]
Former Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde fears that rugby has lost its soul in Wales and calls the situation "very sad". [...]
BBC Sport's rugby union pundits reveal who is the most romantic and what they would cook each other on Valentine's Day. [...]
Chris Ashton and Chris Jones explain why Wales are in turmoil - before Warren Gatland's exit as head coach was announced. [...]
Six Nations Rugby Special's Chris Ashton and Joe Marler pick their British and Irish Lions XVs based on performances by players in the second round of fixtures. [...]
Ospreys boss Mark Jones expects caretaker Wales coach Matt Sherratt to have the support of the nation's regional coaches for the rest of the 2025 Six Nations. [...]
Scarlets director Ron Jones says Welsh rugby cannot afford to run four regional sides and that at least one must go. [...]
Ulster's Jacob Stockdale says he rejected a switch to the Top 14 to follow in the footsteps of former team-mates like Rory Best and Andrew Trimble [...]
Leinster edge a spirited Ospreys side to remain unbeaten in this season's United Rugby Championship. [...]
Harlequins miss the chance to go top of the table as Bristol Bears claim victory to strengthen their grip on fourth place in the Premiership Women's Rugby table. [...]
Northampton Saints score 10 tries against Nottingham to cruise into the Premiership Rugby Cup quarter-finals. [...]
Full-back Max Malins will rejoin Saracens from Bristol Bears at the end of the 2024-25 season. [...]
