
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 » [...]

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 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 » [...]

Watch the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry action as the All Blacks tour South Africa for the first time since 1996 (PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP via 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 the All Blacks continue their first tour of South Africa since 1996. Back …Continue reading » [...]

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’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 [...]

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 » [...]

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 » [...]

Watch Australia v Japan as the sides attempt to live up to last weekend’s 35-32 thriller in Osaka (Paul Miller/Getty Images)Eddie Jones returns to his home country looking to get one over on his former employers.Watch Australia v Japan as the Wallabies’ new boss, Les Kiss, attempts to make it two from two against one …Continue reading » [...]

The Greatest Rivalry Tour is a rugby throwback (Getty Images)Paul Williams believes the All Blacks' Greatest Rivalry Tour of South Africa is the perfect mix of old and newPaul Williams believes the All Blacks' Greatest Rivalry Tour of South Africa is the perfect mix of old and new [...]

Franklin’s Gardens, home of Gallagher PREM champions Northampton Saints, was a great place to watch rugby last season (David Rogers/Getty Images)A tour around the 10 Gallagher PREM rugby grounds, from venues established in the Victorian era to modern, purpose-built arenas.PREM Rugby stadiums are a proper mixed bag. A journey fom Exeter Chiefs’ Sandy Park in the south-west to Newcastle …Continue reading » [...]

Upcoming men’s Ireland rugby fixtures include the northern hemisphere leg of the Nations Championship and the 2027 Six Nations (Steve Christo/Getty Images)This Rugby World guide includes kick-off times and (where available) venue information for men’s and women’s Ireland rugby fixtures in 2026 and 2027.A guide to all the Irish men and women's fixtures [...]
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.
Northampton boss Phil Dowson says he is optimistic about extending Henry Pollock's contract despite agent demands for seven-figure annual wages. [...]
England captain Maro Itoje says he was initially taken aback by the suggestion he step away from international action for the July Tests [...]
New Zealand flanker Tom Christie is chosen as the new captain of Newcastle Red Bulls, replacing hooker George McGuigan. [...]
Gloucester's Lewis Ludlow on losing the captaincy last season, his two England caps, and chasing a record in his upcoming testimonial season. [...]
Airlink says the manoeuvre with two planes in close formation involved careful and precise planning. [...]
World champions South Africa deliver a powerful first-half performance as they edge past New Zealand and level 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series at 1-1. [...]
Rory Best says Joe Schmidt's new role with Ulster is a case of "small steps" as the province seek to use the former Ireland coach's expertise to build a platform for long-term success. [...]
Wales winger Lisa Neumann has joined Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2026-27 PWR season. [...]
Leicester Tigers sign Australian stand-off half Jack Bowen. [...]
Rising rugby star Stella Orrin reflects on her pride at making her senior Wales debut as she targets a first cap in the autumn internationals. [...]
The Welsh Rugby Union issues pitch safety advice for the new season after a record-breaking summer. [...]
Ospreys add to their Australian contigent with the signing of former Wallabies wing Marika Koroibete. [...]
Munster announce that Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley is not expected to return from injury until the new year. [...]
Premiership Women's Rugby says average attendances rose by 23.4% during the 2025-26 season, which concluded in June with Saracens winning a record fourth title. [...]
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. [...]





