The twenty fourth and last place for Males’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will as soon as once more be determined at The Sevens Stadium, Dubai.
Dubai was the venue for the Last Qualification Match (FQT) for Rugby World Cup 2023, during which Portugal secured their place following a nail-biting 16-16 draw with the USA.
Whereas the one different time a Last Qualification event of this nature was held was in Marseille in 2018, when Canada managed to see off the specter of Germany, Kenya and Hong Kong China, to make it by means of to Japan.
Thus far, solely Belgium, because the fifth greatest crew within the Rugby Europe Championship, have confirmed their spot on the FQT, with groups from Africa, South America and the Pacific set to affix them on the quadrangular occasion, which shall be held throughout three matchdays between 8-18 November eighth.
This means that for the first time in the professional era, the men’s pool draw will take place with all 24 participating teams confirmed.
Scheduled for December 2025, the draw will be based on the World Rugby Men’s Rankings at the end of the November international window.
With the rankings set to determine the banding of teams for the draw, every result between now and December could directly impact the makeup of the six pools of four. Fixtures played during the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia – a serious occasion in its personal proper and a key milestone in a golden decade for rugby within the nation– won’t be counted in the direction of the rankings used for Rugby World Cup seeding functions.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson mentioned: “The Last Qualification Match is at all times an exhilarating, do-or-die second within the build-up to Rugby World Cup – and it’s becoming that we carry it to a world-class vacation spot like Dubai. As we head in the direction of probably the most inclusive and globally consultant event ever, with 24 groups competing in an expanded format and a minimum of one nation from every of our regional associations, this last step on the ‘Journey to Australia 2027’ shall be a celebration of ambition, resilience and the worldwide spirit of rugby. We can not wait to see which crew earns the ultimate place and joins us for what guarantees to be a novel celebration of rugby and Australia in 2027.”
