How to watch the Rugby World Cup 2027 draw: date, time, live stream and who Scotland could face explained
Everything you need to know about this week’s Rugby World Cup draw.
In what will be the biggest edition of the tournament to date in terms of number of teams, Gregor Townsend’s men will learn their fate this week.
Australia will host the competition for the third time, which will start in October 2027. After it was announced that the competing nations would increase from 20 to 24, the new-look tournament has underwent a revamp.
Last time out, Scotland were dealt the group of death against South Africa - the eventual winners and Ireland, who won the Six Nations Grand Slam earlier in the year. After the 2027 quadrennial tournament, Townsend’s tenure as Scotland boss will come to an end as his contract expires.
In what will be a history-making event, here’s everything you need to know about the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw, as Scotland discover who they will face on the grandest stage of them all:
When and where is the Rugby World Cup draw?
The draw will take place in Sydney on Wednesday, 3rd December. It should start around 9am GMT (8pm local time). It will be hosted by Morgan Turinui and Brett Robinson, while rugby legends Dan Carter and James Slipper will also play a part in proceedings.
Can I live stream the Rugby World Cup draw?
Yes, the draw will be available to viewers in the United Kingdom on World Rugby’s YouTube channel, which will stream the event globally. It will also be available on Rugby Pass TV.
Who has qualified for the Rugby World Cup?
The 2027 World Cup will not only be a first in number of competing teams but will also be a first for Hong Kong, who will make their debut. It will also be the first time since 1991 that African outfit, Zimbabwe have been involved in the competition. Here’s a look at all 24 qualified teams:
Automatic qualifiers: South Africa, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales, Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, Argentina.
Continental qualifiers: Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Georgia, Spain, Romania, Portugal, Tonga, Canada, United States, Uruguay.
Play-off/final qualification tournament: Chile, Samoa.
Who could Scotland potentially face at the Rugby World Cup?
The first stage of the tournament will involve six pools of four teams. First and second from each pool will qualify for the round of 16, while the four third place sides with the highest points will also progress. Each team has been allocated a band from one to four based on their World Ranking.
Scotland had a chance of going into band one during the Autumn Internationals which would’ve meant a more generous group, however their capitulation against Argentina meant they’ll have to settle for band two. This means they will face one side from bands one, three and four. The bands look as follows:
Band 1: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Argentina
Band 2: Australia, Fiji, Scotland, Italy, Wales, Japan
Band 3: Georgia, Uruguay, Spain, USA, Chile, Tonga
Band 4: Samoa, Portugal, Romania, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, Canada
This means that the ideal situation the group for Townsend’s men would be something like Argentina, USA and Hong Kong, while they’ll want to avoid the likes of South Africa, Georgia and Samoa.
What has Brett Robinson said ahead of the draw?
The World Rugby chair said: “with only two years until the biggest Men’s Rugby World Cup ever, I’m thrilled to see the tournament draw date revealed. The draw brings the potential match-ups to life, rivalries are set and fans across the globe can envision the unforgettable rugby that awaits.”