Rugby World
Watch Bordeaux Bègles v Toulouse: Live streams, TV details for Sunday’s Champions Cup quarter-final

Watch Bordeaux v Toulouse to see which of these French titans makes it through to the Champions Cup semi-finals (ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP via Getty Images)Sunday will be the end of the Champions Cup road for one of the best sides in EuropeWatch Bordeaux Bègles v Toulouse free on France TV (France) in a blockbuster Champions Cup encounter that would have made …Continue reading » [...]

It’s retro jersey weekend in La Liga. Here are five classic rugby club jerseys we’d like to see again

CANBERRA - MAY 9: George Gregan of the Brumbies looking dejected after the teams 28-21 loss during the Super 12 match between the ACT Brumbies and the Canterbury Crusaders on May 9, 2003 at Canberra Stadium in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Nick Wilson/Getty Images)As Spanish football celebrates classic kits of the past, we look back on club jerseys that deserve to make a comeback.As Spanish football celebrates classic kits of the past, we look back on club jerseys that deserve to make a comeback. [...]

Why Northampton Saints or Bath could be playing their Champions Cup semi-final in Milton Keynes

The winners of Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints may play their Champions Cup semi-final in Milton Keynes (David Rogers/Getty Images)“Home country advantage” could mean a last-four tie at Stadium MK for England's Champions Cup hopefuls“Home country advantage” could mean a last-four tie at Stadium MK for England's Champions Cup hopefuls [...]

How to watch Bath v Northampton Saints: Free channels & streaming info for Friday Champions Cup match

Watch Bath v Northampton Saints to see which of the PREM Rugby pace-setters makes it to the Champions Cup semi-finals (David Rogers/Getty Images)The top two sides in the Gallagher PREM meet under the Friday night lights for a place in the Champions Cup semi-finalsWatch Bath v Northampton Saints as the two pace-setters in this season’s Gallagher PREM meet for a place in the …Continue reading » [...]

How to watch Women’s Six Nations 2026: Official broadcasters & streaming guide

Watch the Women’s Six Nations to see if England can follow up September’s World Cup win with yet another Grand Slam (Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)Everything you need to know to tune into every Women's Six Nations game wherever you are in the worldWatch the Women’s Six Nations 2026 as Europe’s best sides kick off their campaigns this weekend. England, the world’s number …Continue reading » [...]

Women’s Six Nations 2026: All you need to know including fixtures, squads and past winners

Can the Red Roses make it an eighth Women’s Six Nations title in a row?(Paul Harding/Getty Images)The Women's Six Nations 2026 kicks off on Saturday 11 April with England on pursuit of a eighth consecutive championship. The Women's Six Nations starts on Saturday 11 April with England on pursuit of a eighth consecutive championship. Here’s all you need to know about the northern hemisphere’s biggest tournament [...]

How to watch Champions Cup rugby: TV & streaming guide for 2025-26 European Cup quarter-finals

Can Bordeaux Bègles retain the title they won in Cardiff last season? (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)How to watch Investec Champions Cup live streams when quarter-finals kick off this weekend.This article explains how to watch the Investec Champions Cup as the 2025-26 edition of the competition reaches its quarter-final …Continue reading » [...]

Meet Bo Westcombe Evans, the flying winger who loves war films, is named after an ancient tribal queen and is aiming for an England Red Roses starting spot…

Bo Westcombe Evans on pitch foBo Westcombe Evans on pitch for Loughborough Lightning (Dennis Dixon)r Loughborough Lightning (Getty Images)The Loughborough Lightning winger is back from long-term injury and aiming a starting Six Nations spot with EnglandThe Loughborough Lightning winger is back from long-term injury and aiming a starting Six Nations spot with England [...]

“If I hadn’t given myself the chance to play in the World Cup again, that would have been a massive regret”: All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo’unga on returning to New Zealand, the World Cup and Scott Robertson

Richie Mo'unga returns to the All Blacks (Rugby World)Richie Mo'unga talks exclusively to Rugby World about life in Japan, his return to the All Blacks, the World Cup and his bond with Scott Robertson Richie Mo'unga talks exclusively to Rugby World about life in Japan, his return to the All Blacks, the World Cup and his bond with Scott Robertson [...]

How to watch Bordeaux v Leicester Tigers: Free channels & streaming info for Sunday Champions Cup match

Watch Bordeaux v Leicester Tigers as Geoff Parling’s side travel to the home of the European champions (ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP via Getty Images)Can Leicester hold off one of the most scintillating backlines in European rugby?Watch Bordeaux Bègles v Leicester Tigers free on France TV (France) as the East Midlanders pay a visit to the …Continue reading » [...]

How to watch Toulouse v Bristol Bears: TV & streaming info for Saturday Champions Cup match

Watch Toulouse v Bristol Bears, as Louis Rees-Zammit and co head to the south of France (Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)Pat Lam’s exciting side face a tricky evening at the home of the Top 14 champions.Watch Toulouse v Bristol Bears as two of the most exciting teams in Europe face off for a place in …Continue reading » [...]

Watch Northampton Saints v Castres: Live streams, TV details for Friday’s round-of-16 Champions Cup match

Watch Northampton Saints v Castres, as last year’s losing finalists make a bid for the quarter-finals (ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP via Getty Images)The Gallagher PREM leaders welcome Top 14 opposition to Franklin’s Gardens.Watch Northampton Saints v Castres as the Gallagher PREM leaders push for a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup …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

Nerveless Henry Slade kicked a 79th minute penalty against Benetton to book Exeter a European Challenge Cup semi-final. [...]

England star Ellie Kildunne says a record Women's Six Nations crowd of 77,120 at Allianz Stadium against Ireland is now becoming "the norm". [...]

Scotland begin a new era under Sione Fukofuka with a 24-19 victory over Wales in Cardiff in the opening round of the Women's Six Nations. [...]

Former Ireland international Lindsay Peat says she is "frustrated" that Ireland "didn't fire enough shots" in their 33-12 Women's Six Nations defeat by England. [...]

England begin Six Nations title defence with victory over Ireland [...]

Leinster shook off a lacklustre first half to comfortably beat Sale Sharks and book a home Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon. [...]

Scotland begin a new era under Sione Fukofuka with a narrow victory over Wales in the opening round of the Women's Six Nations. [...]

France score five second-half tries as they beat Italy 40-7 in the opening match of the Women's Six Nations. [...]

Married couple Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald react to facing each other for the first time as England beat Ireland 33-12 in the Women's Six Nations in front of a record crowd at the Allianz Stadium. [...]

England's Ellie Kildunne reflects on the Red Roses' 33-12 victory over Ireland in their opening match of the Women's Six Nations. [...]

England captain Megan Jones reacts to the Red Roses' 33-12 victory over Ireland in their opening game of the Women's Six Nations at Allianz Stadium. [...]

Dragons reach a European Challenge Cup semi-final for the first time in 10 years by defeating Zebre 35-32 in the quarter-final in Parma. [...]

England open title defence with comfortable win over Ireland in front of a record Women's Six Nations crowd of 77,120 at Allianz Stadium. [...]

Despite an opening Six Nations defeat to Scotland, head coach Sean Lynn says Wales' improvements from last summer's winless World Cup campaign are "clear to see". [...]

Sara Orchard is joined by Kat Merchant and Anna Caplice as England beat Ireland 33-12 [...]