World Rugby’s four pool-stage seeding bands for Rugby World Cup 2027 are now officially confirmed after Scotland ended the only remaining permutation in Edinburgh.
Tonga went into Sunday’s match needing a win or a draw at Murrayfield to jump into Band 3. Had they pulled it off, Samoa would have been bumped into Band 4. Scotland’s 56-0 victory removed that possibility and locked the final twenty four team grid ahead of Wednesday’s draw in Sydney.
Samoa’s vulnerability stemmed from their costly draw with Belgium in Dubai last week. Tonga, sitting just behind Chile in 19th, briefly had a narrow window to break into Band 3. Chile, who stayed within 15 points of Italy in Genoa, were never at risk and remain safe in the third band.
With Tonga falling short, the last thread of jeopardy is gone. When the rankings land on Monday at noon, there may be a little shuffling inside the bands, but nothing that alters the bands themselves. They’re set.
Rugby World Cup 2027 will feature 24 teams for the first time.
Australia, as hosts, go straight into Pool A. They will still be drawn from Band 2 based on where they finish the year, but their pool slot was guaranteed from the start.
Beyond Australia, eleven teams qualified automatically by finishing in the top three of their pools at Rugby World Cup 2023: Argentina, New Zealand, Fiji, Japan, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales and South Africa.
The other twelve came through the global pathway.
Georgia, Portugal, Romania and Spain made it out of Europe, Zimbabwe took the Africa place, Hong Kong China qualified from Asia, while Canada, Tonga and USA advanced via the Pacific route. Uruguay qualified from South America.
Chile won a regional playoff and Samoa claimed the final berth through their repechage draw with Belgium in Dubai.
Zimbabwe’s presence in Band 4 still stands out: they sit outside the top 24 in the rankings but qualified as Africa’s representative. Belgium, despite being ranked higher, miss out entirely.
The final confirmed bands
Band 1
South Africa
New Zealand
England
Ireland
France
Argentina
Band 2
Australia
Fiji
Scotland
Italy
Wales
Japan
Band 3
Georgia
Spain
Uruguay
USA
Samoa
Chile
Band 4
Tonga
Portugal
Romania
Hong Kong China
Canada
Zimbabwe
