The 2027 males’s Rugby World Cup has formally crossed the two-year countdown with 24 groups set to line up for the biggest match within the sport’s historical past, whereas the draw has been set for Wednesday Dec. 3.
Australia will host the match with the opening match to happen at Optus Stadium in Perth on Oct. 1 in what would be the begin of a brand new period of the lads’s sport. However with the enlargement from 20 to 24 groups it means opening the door to a complete new match format, together with the introduction of the ‘Spherical of 16’.
So how does all of it work?
WHAT IS THE NEW TOURNAMENT FORMAT?
Beforehand a 20 group, 4 pool match, the 2027 World Cup will broaden to 6 swimming pools of 4 groups. The highest two groups from every pool will progress to the Spherical of 16, whereas the 4 greatest third-place groups will even advance.
These last 4 groups might be decided by competitors factors, with factors distinction and check out distinction coming into play if wanted.
WILL THE WORLD CUP HAVE MORE GAMES?
With the introduction of the Spherical of 16 there might be extra video games for followers to get pleasure from, however in an fascinating twist, gamers won’t play further video games. So how does that work?
The discount of 5 groups to 4 in every pool means there may be one fewer match for every group within the pool section (and no bye spherical), changed as a substitute with a further knockout match, permitting the competitors to broaden from 48 video games on the 2023 World Cup to 52 matches in 2027. In the meantime, a minimal of 5 relaxation days might be noticed between matches.
It additionally means the match has been condensed, shrinking from 50 days in 2023 to simply 43 days in 2027.
HOW DOES THE ROUND OF 16 WORK?
That is the place it will get barely sophisticated, however we’ll hold it easy.
The winners of Pool A-D will play the very best 4 third-place groups, whereas the winners of Swimming pools E and F will play the runners-up from Swimming pools D and B. The runners-up from Swimming pools A and C will then tackle the runners-up from Swimming pools E and F.
Whereas this may occasionally appear unfair on the floor degree, the imbalance does even out within the subsequent knockout spherical. For instance, the winner of Pool A will play a third-place group within the Spherical of 16 however may face the winner of Pool B if that group advances. In the meantime, the winner of Pool E will play a second seeded group in each knockout rounds.
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE WORLD CUP DRAW?
The draw to find out pool levels will happen on Wednesday Dec.3 in Sydney.
HOW DOES THE DRAW WORK?
As soon as all 24 groups are confirmed they are going to be seeded from 1 to 24 based mostly on their World Rugby rankings on the time of the draw on Dec. 3.
The 24 groups might be divided into 4 teams of six labelled Bands. The highest six nations might be grouped into Band 1, the following six Band 2, and so forth. Every pool can have one group from every of the 4 bands.
There may be one exception. As Australia are internet hosting the match they’ve already been positioned into Pool A. With the Wallabies at the moment sitting exterior the highest six, they’re at the moment in Band 2, that means a group from Band 1 might be drawn and positioned in Pool A. Nevertheless, if they need to transfer up the world rankings by December, a group from Band 2 might be drawn as a substitute.
WHICH TEAMS HAVE QUALIFIED?
Twelve groups mechanically certified from the 2023 World Cup after ending within the high three of their swimming pools: France, New Zealand, Italy, Eire, South Africa, Scotland, Wales, Fiji, Australia, England, Argentina and Japan.
The 12 remaining locations have been reserved for groups that earned their place via qualification tournaments, these embody: Georgia, Spain, Romania, Portugal, Tonga, Canada, USA, Uruguay, Chile, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong China.
One last spot stays with Namibia, Belguim, Samoa, Brazil and Paraguay all preventing for qualification in October.
WHAT ARE THE CURRENT SEEDINGS?
BAND 1: South Africa, New Zealand, Eire, France, England, Argentina
BAND 2: Australia, Scotland, Fiji, Italy, Georgia, Wales
BAND 3: Japan, Spain, USA, Chile, Tonga, Uruguay
BAND 4: Portugal, Romania, Hong Kong China, Canada, Zimbabwe
WHERE WILL THE GAMES BE PLAYED?
The largest World Cup thus far might be performed throughout the biggest island nation on the earth with video games to happen throughout the nation at seven totally different areas together with: Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle and Townsville.
