European qualification for Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 begins in Bucharest

The journey to Australia 2027 begins for the leading European nations outside of the Guinness Men's Six Nations in Bucharest this Friday when Romania take on Germany in the opening match of the Rugby Europe Men's Championship 2025.

Defending champions Georgia face tournament newcomers Switzerland in the first of the two Saturday fixtures, while Portugal play a Belgium side that beat them `10-6 at the same stage of last year's competition.

Sunday's solitary game is a sell-out between Spain and the rapidly improving Netherlands.

Georgia, Spain, the Netherlands and Switzerland are in Pool A and Pool B is made up of Portugal, Romania, Germany and Belgium. The top two from each pool will make it through to the semi-finals, guaranteeing them a place at the next Men's Rugby World Cup.

The sides that finish third and fourth in their respective pools will meet in the fifth to eighth place play-offs, with the top-ranked team progressing through to the Final Qualification Tournament as Europe's representatives.

By expanding Men's Rugby World Cup to 24 teams, having adopted a 20-team model since 1999, opportunities have opened up for countries who have yet to play on the game's greatest stage.

Chile were debutants in France in 2023 and if the Netherlands can emulate their fifth-place finish in last year's Rugby Europe Championship, they will be the next team to make their tournament bow in Australia.

“The players are excited, they see an opportunity. If we are not good enough to beat Spain or Georgia at least there is an opportunity to make the repechage and play in a big tournament next year,” said Netherlands head coach Jones, who coached Russia at Rugby World Cup 2019.

Dutch skipper Koen Bloemen added: “I think I can speak for the whole team when I say that we are thrilled to go into this Men’s Rugby Europe Championship. I don’t think we are nervous, just very excited, as we will have a shot at something great for Dutch rugby.”

All of the matches in the Rugby Europe Men's Championship count towards the World Rugby Men's Rankings, which will determine the seedings for the RWC 2027 draw. The draw be held between the end of this year's November internationals and the start of the 2026 Men's Six Nations and Georgia are the highest-ranked team in the competition in 12th place.

As things stand, this would put the Lelos into the second band of seeds, which is for the teams ranked seventh to 12th, while Portugal and Spain, who are 16th and 18th, would sit just inside the third band if they qualified in the same position they are currently in.

While none of the fancied home teams can improve their position in their own right this weekend, any upsets would lead to changes.

Switzerland would jump to a record high of 25th if they beat all-conquering Georgia, while a first Rugby Europe Men’s Championship defeat for the Lelos since 2017 would see them drop two places with Japan and Samoa the beneficiaries.

Belgium will also gain multiple places if they do the home-and-away double on Portugal in Lisbon with a climb as high as 22nd possible  – an outcome which would see Portugal fall at least one place.

Spain can only climb the rankings if their Iberian rivals Portugal lose by more than 15 points, but will fall one or two places in defeat.

The Netherlands stand to gain two places if they can convert last year’s near-miss against Spain into a victory, while a win for Germany away to Romania would result in them climbing back into the world’s top 30.

Meanwhile, defeat for Romania will see them slip out of the top 20 for the first time since the rankings were introduced in October 2003.

Photo: Rugby Europe