Following the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, we pick out our winners and losers.
The tournament has been expanded from 20 participating countries to 24, which has resulted in six pools consisting of four teams.
The top two teams from each pool, plus the four best third-placed teams, will qualify for the round of 16, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final following.
Rugby World Cup 2027 pools are as follows:
Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong China
Pool B: South Africa, Italy, Georgia, Romania
Pool C: Argentina, Fiji, Spain, Canada
Pool D: Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay, Portugal
Pool E: France, Japan, USA, Samoa
Pool F: England, Wales, Tonga, Zimbabwe
So without further ado, here are our winners and losers from the draw.
Winners
Australia
The Wallabies were automatically drawn into Pool A, and for the spectacle of the tournament, we can only hope that their opening game will be against the All Blacks, as France opted to do in 2023.
This World Cup is being viewed as an opportunity for Australians to really fall back in love with the game, and a clash against their trans-Tasman rivals is the perfect chance to kick off the competition with a bang.
There were fears that the Wallabies could get an incredibly difficult pool, having failed to finish 2025 in the top six of the World Rugby rankings by the end of the year, but ultimately, they will be rather pleased with how things panned out.
The All Blacks will be a mighty challenge for the then-coached Les Kiss outfit, but they will be expected to beat Chile and World Cup debutants Hong Kong China.
It could have panned out a hell of a lot worse for the Wallabies, who failed to progress past the pool stages of the tournament in France. Without being disrespectful to the likes of Chile and Hong Kong, the Wallabies should breeze through those fixtures and qualify for the knockout stages.
A second-place finish in Pool A, behind the Wallabies, would set up a round of 16 clash against the runner-up from Pool E. France are favourites as it stands to top that pool that also features Japan, USA, and Samoa. Successfully navigate past the round of 16, and a meeting against England, probably, awaits them in the quarters.
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England
Dan Carter has dubbed Tonga as the dark horses of Pool F, but overall, Steve Borthwick will be smitten with how England were drawn for the 2027 World Cup.
They have been drawn along with Wales and Zimbabwe, and would be expected to win all of their games quite comfortably. Wales are certainly on an upward trajectory, and Tonga will be physically taxing, but considering their talent and current ranking, England should make light work of their pool.
Topping their pool would likely put them on the opposite side of the knockout bracket to France, South Africa and New Zealand if results go their way.
The Springboks will be expected to top Pool B, meaning Borthwick’s charges would then face one of Italy, Georgia, and Romania in the round of 16 – three nations they have never lost to. The quarter-final would then be against the runner-up from either Pool A or E – likely Australia and Japan.
A semi-final against Ireland, if they overcome their quarter-final hoodoo, is then very much a possibility. If the Irish don’t, then it could well be Argentina. Compared to South Africa in 2023, it’s hardly the most challenging route to the final. Hell, it’s an easy one.
USA
Drawing France, Japan and Samoa in their group doesn’t immediately jump out as a victory for the Eagles, but they will fancy their chances, particularly against the latter duo.
Due to the Pacific Nations Cup, the USA have played several times against Japan and Samoa and that knowledge of their opponents could work wonders for the 2031 World Cup hosts.
As mentioned above, the four best third-ranked teams will progress to the round of 16, and the USA are well placed to be amongst the quartet, provided that they are able to pick up a win over Samoa or Japan and keep the margin of defeat against the other a small one.
Argentina
Los Pumas are the only Tier One nation that has not been drawn in the same pool as another Tier One team, joining Fiji, Spain, and Canada in Pool C – note, World Rugby upgraded Japan to Tier One status in May 2023.
Fiji will undoubtedly be a tough challenge for Argentina, while Spain will be hellbent on making the most of their World Cup qualification after missing out in 2023 after fielding an ineligible player during their qualification process.
Canada have made notable improvements this year, in particular, after failing to qualify for France 2023, but as of right now, Argentina is the clear frontrunner to top the pool.
In doing so, they would set up a last-16 clash against the best third-ranked team from Pools B, E or F. The only downside for the Pumas would be a likely quarter-final meeting with Ireland.
Ireland
On paper, Pool D is one of the most challenging, with Ireland joined by Scotland, Uruguay, and Portugal.
It’s the third World Cup in a row that the Irish will meet the Scots, but that won’t be too much of a concern, as Ireland won the previous two meetings. Even if they are to fall to a shock defeat, the Irish should emerge victorious over Uruguay and Portugal.
Topping the group will be the expectation for Ireland, which would give them the opportunity to finally win a World Cup knockout stage match. Winning the pool would set up a last-16 clash against the best third-place team from one of Pool A, E or F and then a possible meeting with Argentina.
The Pumas have been a bogey team for Ireland at previous World Cups, but the men from the Emerald Isle have had the upper hand over the South Americans in recent times.
Hong Kong China
The expansion of the Rugby World Cup has opened the door for new nations to secure qualification, and that is the case for Hong Kong China.
Ultimately, this is a win for World Rugby too, as the game could attract the attention of a brand new audience and potentially a profitable one too.
For many aspiring rugby players, the prospect of representing their country at a World Cup is the ultimate dream and playing against the All Blacks is the pinnacle, something that the players of Hong Kong China will be able to achieve in 2027.
Latest World Rugby rankings: Springboks top as final 2025 standings
Losers
All Blacks and Springboks
The 2027 Rugby World Cup draw is a far cry from the abomination that was the 2023 tournament, which resulted in the four best teams in the world at the time meeting in the quarter-finals.
However, the finalists of France 2023 are on a collision course for the last eight in 2027.
South Africa have been drawn with Romania for a second tournament in a row, but are joined in Pool B by Italy and Georgia – two teams that they comfortably beat in 2025. In fact, Rassie Erasmus’ men beat the Azzurri all three times they met this year.
The Bok head coach has boldly predicted that Italy will finish in the top three of the Six Nations this year, but South Africa will be expected to win all of their pool stage matches in Australia – a feat that they fell short of in both 2019 and 2023.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks have been drawn with hosts Australia in Pool A and the victors of that match are bound to top the pool, with Chile and Hong Kong China set to be small speed bumps en route to the play-offs.
While New Zealand and Australia are fierce rivals, the former have comfortably had the upper hand in recent years and would be favourites to not only beat the Wallabies but also top the group.
With the winners of Pool A and B set to face off against a best third-ranked team in the last-16, it’s easy to see the Boks and All Blacks meeting in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Scotland
2015 was the last time that Scotland progressed past the pool stages of the World Cup, with Gregor Townsend failing to lead the side into the quarter-finals in the last two editions of the competition.
The expansion of the tournament means that it is highly unlikely that the Scots will make it a hat-trick of pool stage exits, but failure to top the group will pit them on what is set to be a more difficult side of the draw.
If they finish in second place, behind Ireland, in Pool D, they are set to meet with France in the last-16. Qualifying for the knockouts as the best third-place nation from Pool D, E and F would put them on a collision course with South Africa.
France
Barring a classic French World Cup meltdown, Les Bleus should top Pool E, where they have been drawn with Japan, USA and Samoa.
Reward for doing that? Being on the same side of the draw as the All Blacks, Springboks, and probably Scotland, as well as Argentina or Fiji.
Their round of 16 clash would be against the runners-up of Pool D – possibly Ireland or Scotland – and then a meeting against the winners of the clash between the runners-up of Pool C and Pool F. Then, a possible semi-final against South Africa or New Zealand.
Uruguay and Portugal
Uruguay were the darlings of the 2019 World Cup after pulling off a shock victory over Fiji, and Portugal did the same in 2023 while also drawing with Georgia.
The duo will have had high hopes of doing even better Down Under by qualifying for the knockout stages, particularly after World Rugby’s decision to expand the tournament, making that goal even more achievable.
However, they have been drawn alongside Six Nations outfits Ireland and Scotland, making the task incredibly difficult. Os Lobos and Los Teros will be driven to claim an upset against one of those two sides, who are both known for racking up big scorelines over tier two nations.
What makes the duo losers in the draw is that they will be vying for what will be hotly contested knockout positions – the best third-place finishes.
They are set to compete with the likes of Japan, USA, Samoa, and Tonga for a spot in the last-16.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe have been dealt an incredibly tough hand in their first Rugby World Cup appearance since 1991.
The Southern African nation was the first name drawn, placing them in Pool F where they were drawn alongside England, Wales and Tonga.
As mentioned above, England are clear favourites for this group while Wales look to be improving under Steve Tandy – despite their thrashing at the hands of the Springboks. Tonga are bound to be boosted significantly for the tournament, with several of their stars being made available.
The Sables will be incredibly proud that they have qualified for the tournament and will be targeting a first-ever win in the competition after losing their previous six matches in 1987 and 1991, but it will be a mighty task.
READ MORE: AS IT HAPPENED: The 2027 Rugby World Cup draw
