EUROPE – 4 TEAMS
January-March, 2025
The four teams that reach the semi-finals of the Rugby Europe Men's Championship 2025 will qualify directly for Australia 2027. The winner of the fifth-place play-off will secure their ticket to the Final Qualification Tournament.
Nations involved: Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland
ASIA – 1 TEAM
June-July, 2025
The Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 winners will qualify directly for Men’s RWC 2027 with the runner-up progressing to the Asia/Africa Play-off.
Nations involved: Hong Kong China, Korea, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates
AFRICA – 1 TEAM
July, 2025
The Rugby Africa Men's Cup 2025 champions will qualify directly for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. The runner-up will progress to the Asia/Africa Play-off.
Nations involved: Algeria, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, Uganda, Zimbabwe and winner of the Rugby Africa Men’s Cup 2025 Repechage
SOUTH AMERICA – 1 TEAM
July-September, 2025
The Sudamérica Rugby Championship 2025 winners will secure their place at Australia 2027, with the runner-up qualifying for the South America/Pacific Play-off and third placed team joining the line-up for the Final Qualification Tournament.
Nations involved: Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay
PACIFIC – 3 TEAMS
August-September, 2025
The best three teams of the Pacific Nations Cup 2025, other than already-qualified Fiji and Japan, will punch their tickets to RWC 2027. The sixth-placed team will join the South America/Pacific Play-off.
Nations involved: Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, USA
SOUTH AMERICA/PACIFIC – 1 TEAM
September, 2025
A home-and-away play-off between the Sudamérica Rugby Championship 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.
FINAL QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT – 1 TEAM
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 be comprised of the:
- Sudamérica Rugby Championship 2025 third place
- South America/Pacific Play-off loser
- Rugby Europe Men’s Championship 2025 fifth place
- Africa/Asia Play-off winner (Rugby Africa Men’s Cup 2025 runner-up v Asia Rugby Men’s Championship runner-up)
