Rugby World
The best Welsh players leaving home to play club rugby in England? It’s nothing new argues Paul Williams
The best Welsh players leaving home to play club rugby in England? It’s nothing new argues Paul Williams

Why do so many Welsh rugby players play in England? (Getty Images)With Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Aaron Wainright the latest Welsh internationals leaving to play club rugby in England, Paul Williams argues this is nothing new for fans of Wales and likely to continue With Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Aaron Wainright the latest Welsh internationals leaving to play club rugby in England, Paul Williams argues this is nothing new for fans of Wales and likely to continue [...]

Pumas v Wallabies live streams: How to watch the second Argentina v Australia Test for free from anywhere
Pumas v Wallabies live streams: How to watch the second Argentina v Australia Test for free from anywhere

Watch Argentina v Australia as the Wallabies look to build on last weekend’s victory over the Pumas (Ramiro VEGA / AFP via Getty Images)Can Australia extend new boss Les Kiss’s winning start in the job?Watch Argentina v Australia as the two other Rugby Championship sides remind the world that southern hemisphere rugby isn’t just about …Continue reading » [...]

How to watch Springboks v All Blacks for FREE: Stream today’s 3rd Greatest Rivalry Test from anywhere
How to watch Springboks v All Blacks for FREE: Stream today’s 3rd Greatest Rivalry Test from anywhere

Watch South Africa v New Zealand as the two rugby giants look to claim the advantage in the Greatest Rivalry series (Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images/Getty Images)It’s currently honours even between the two best sides in the world. Who will seize the Greatest Rivalry initiative with victory in Johannesburg?Watch South Africa v New Zealand as the Greatest Rivalry series reaches a crescendo in Johannesburg. The All Blacks shocked …Continue reading » [...]

Springbok Women v Black Ferns live streams: How to watch the Women’s Greatest Rivalry Test from anywhere
Springbok Women v Black Ferns live streams: How to watch the Women’s Greatest Rivalry Test from anywhere

Watch Springbok Women v Black Ferns as the sides kick-off an epic double-bill of Greatest Rivalry Rugby (Alex Davidson - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)Two sides meet on South African soil for the very first time.Watch South Africa v New Zealand as the Springbok Women and Black Ferns kick off an epic afternoon of Greatest …Continue reading » [...]

How to watch Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour 2026: Official broadcasters, TV & streaming guide for South Africa vs New Zealand
How to watch Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour 2026: Official broadcasters, TV & streaming guide for South Africa vs New Zealand

Watch the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry action as the All Blacks tour South Africa for the first time since 1996 (Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)The All Blacks are in South Africa to play the Springboks in their own backyard. Here’s how to follow every second of the tour.Watch Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry live streams, as New Zealand continue their first tour of South Africa since 1996. It’s honours …Continue reading » [...]

How to watch Argentina v Australia for FREE: Stream today’s Test from anywhere
How to watch Argentina v Australia for FREE: Stream today’s Test from anywhere

Watch Argentina v Australia as the two sides fill a Rugby Championship-shaped hole (Jason McCawley/Getty Images)The Rugby Championship sides meet in the first of two Tests in ArgentinaWatch Argentina v Australia as the two southern hemisphere giants meet in a tantalising follow-up to Saturday’s Greatest Rivalry action …Continue reading » [...]

Springboks v All Blacks live streams: How to watch the Second Greatest Rivalry Test from anywhere
Springboks v All Blacks live streams: How to watch the Second Greatest Rivalry Test from anywhere

Watch South Africa v New Zealand, a must-win match for the Springboks after defeat in Johannesburg (PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP via Getty Images)After New Zealand’s victory last weekend, South Africa know they have to win in Cape TownWatch South Africa v New Zealand as the Springboks welcome the All Blacks to Cape Town knowing they need a …Continue reading » [...]

Watch Lions v All Blacks: Free streams & TV channels for Greatest Rivalry clash
Watch Lions v All Blacks: Free streams & TV channels for Greatest Rivalry clash

Watch Lions v All Blacks to see if Dave Rennie’s side can extend their 100% record in South Africa (PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP via Getty Images)Can the tourists make it four wins out of four against South Africa’s United Rugby Championship sides?Watch Lions v New Zealand as the All Blacks look to follow their stunning victory over the Springboks over the …Continue reading » [...]

How to watch South Africa v New Zealand: Live stream the first Greatest Rivalry Test for free from anywhere
How to watch South Africa v New Zealand: Live stream the first Greatest Rivalry Test for free from anywhere

Watch South Africa v New Zealand as the eagerly anticipated Greatest Rivalry Test series kicks off in Johannesburg (Phil Walter/Getty Images)Can the first Springboks v All Blacks Test live up to its Greatest Rivalry billing?Watch South Africa v New Zealand as the two top-ranked sides in the men’s game kick off their eagerly anticipated …Continue reading » [...]

Scotland rugby fixtures: Men’s and women’s matches in 2026-27, including WXV, Nations Championship and Six Nations
Scotland rugby fixtures: Men’s and women’s matches in 2026-27, including WXV, Nations Championship and Six Nations

Scotland’s upcoming rugby fixtures include the home leg of the Nations Championship, the 2027 Men’s Six Nations and the Men’s Rugby World Cup (Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)When to watch Scotland’s men’s and women’s teams in action this seasonScotland's men and women's teams have a busy schedule lined up [...]

Wales rugby fixtures: Who the men’s and women’s teams are playing 2026-27
Wales rugby fixtures: Who the men’s and women’s teams are playing 2026-27

The next Wales rugby fixture for Steve Tandy’s men sees them welcoming Japan to the Principality Stadium (Ian Cook - CameraSport via Getty Images)Your guide to confirmed Wales rugby fixtures, including the WXV Global Series, Six Nations, Nations Championship and Men’s Rugby World Cup.This guide to Wales rugby fixtures has all the information you need to watch the men’s and women’s teams in …Continue reading » [...]

How to watch Bulls v New Zealand: Free streams & TV channels for today’s Greatest Rivalry encounter
How to watch Bulls v New Zealand: Free streams & TV channels for today’s Greatest Rivalry encounter

Watch Bulls v New Zealand as the All Blacks roadshow lands in Pretoria (Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images/Getty Images)It’s the All Blacks’ final warm-up before facing the Springboks next weekend...Watch Bulls v New Zealand as the All Blacks’ Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry itinerary takes them to Pretoria to face this …Continue reading » [...]

Australia 2027

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.

The full Australia 2027 qualifying process explained

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Categories

BBC
Switch Six Nations fixture to USA to grow game – World Rugby

World Rugby would help any nation which wants to switch a Six Nations match to the United States as it continues its drive to spread the game stateside. [...]

Aitchison to steer England in WXV opener

Holly Aitchison will win her 50th England cap when she starts at fly-half in the Red Roses WXV opener against Australia on Saturday in Manchester. [...]

'Things can change quickly' - Dingwall on England omission

Fraser Dingwall says his omission from England's past two squads is "disappointing", but does not make a return impossible. [...]

Ireland joining elite only a matter of time - Wafer

Aoife Wafer says Ireland are capable of joining the world's elite teams as they build on progress made in recent years. [...]

Clarke & Gallagher start for Scotland against Canada

Scrum-half Rhea Clarke will make her first start when Scotland begin their WXV Series campaign against Canada, while Evie Gallagher returns on the openside flank. [...]

Dragons feel extra pressure after avoiding WRU cut

Dragons set target of making the United Rugby Championship play-offs after avoiding being cut under Welsh Rugby Union plans. [...]

Borthwick's holding pattern extended - with minimal confidence vote

England head coach Steve Borthwick's extra six months buys time but doesn't indicate reserves of confidence from his Rugby Football Union employers. [...]

Schmidt has an amazing eye for detail - Dermody

Ulster forwards coach Clarke Dermody praises Joe Schmidt's "amazing eye for detail" as he settles into his role at the Affidea Stadium. [...]

England should pick English-based players - Baxter

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter says England's rules on selecting only home-based players are the right thing for the domestic game. [...]

The Bluebird hoping to fly high in Welsh rugby

Rising star Amy Williams trades the Cardiff City bluebird for the three feathers of Welsh rugby. [...]

Rugby Union Weekly

Ugo and Chris chat to RFU performance director Conor O'Shea. [...]

WRU support for students almost non-existent, says Williams

Former Wales and Lions wing Shane Williams says pathways support for schools and colleges from the Welsh Rugby Union is "almost non-existent". [...]

England to extend head coach Borthwick's contract

England head coach Steve Borthwick will have his contract extended past the 2028 Six Nations in a bid to avoid uncertainty over his future before and during next year's Rugby World Cup. [...]

Quirke excited by Newcastle project as one of 25 new signings

Raffi Quirke says leaving Sale Sharks was one of the hardest decisions he has had to make, but is impressed with how things are taking shape at a revamped Newcastle Red Bulls. [...]

'Chaos' & 'comedy refereering' as England beat Argentina

Watch the highlights as England hold on to beat Argentina in a chaotic match in the Nations Championship with the hosts having a last-gasp try controversially ruled out. [...]