5 d. ago The Breakdown | Chile coach Pablo Lemoine: ‘Rugby is in trouble, even in countries like Wales’

Former Uruguay prop has praise for new World Cup format but wants more help for developing nationsHow did Pablo Lemoine, Chile’s head coach, react when they were drawn with Australia and New Zealand for the 2027 Rugby World Cup? The answer is perceptive and somewhat surprising.“When countries like Chile play in a World Cup you need a general vision,” Lemoine says. “Thinking only of sport it’s fantastic – it’s awesome. But thinking of the real impact Chile needs: development programmes, political impact, social impact for our fans, it’s much more difficult to find tickets when you play the All Blacks or Australia.” Continue reading...

Sport

2 w. ago WRU approach New Zealand rugby star to play for Wales in urgent bid to find new players

The WRU wants to expand its talent pool significantly ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2027

Sport

3 w. ago 13 players could switch allegiances and represent new nations at Rugby World Cup

The pools for the 2027 Rugby World Cup have been confirmed but several stars could switch nationalities ahead of the tournament

Sport

3 w. ago Maro Itoje eyes World Cup glory after England dodge big guns in 2027 draw

England ‘welcome whatever comes’ says bullish captainWales’ Tandy ‘unbelievably excited’ by England clashMaro Itoje has set his sights on Rugby World Cup glory in Australia in 2027 after England were handed a favourable potential path through the tournament when the draw was made in Sydney on Wednesday.Steve Borthwick’s side, who have risen to third in the world rankings after an 11-match winning streak, emerged on the other side of the draw from the reigning world champions South Africa, three-times winners New Zealand and France. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Scotland find out their Rugby World Cup 2027 fate – all you need to know after the big draw

It's the big one and organisers are ahead of the the curve as teams already know their fate.

Politics

3 w. ago Rugby World Cup 2027 draw: England learn pool stage opponents

NIK SIMON: England have been drawn in the same pool as Wales for the 2027 World Cup and have a potentially dream route to the final. 

Politics

3 w. ago Favourable 2027 Rugby World Cup draw provides few potholes for England | Robert Kitson

Signs are encouraging for an improving squad to invoke the glory of 2003 with rivals facing trickier routes in Australia As the Ashes have reminded us, it never pays to get too excited in advance about winning in Australia. But once the draw for the 2027 men’s Rugby World Cup had concluded and the various knockout permutations had been crunched there was a strong whiff of deja vu in the Sydney air. A World Cup down under and a decent draw for England? What could possibly go wrong?The organisers had already stoked the narrative nicely by wheeling out Jonny Wilkinson in the promotional tournament video, essentially a mashup of Mad Max and Wacky Races roaring across a dusty outback. When every Australian wakes up on Thursday to discover it is 666 days until the 2027 edition kicks off, the nagging fear of nightmarish history repeating itself will further intensify. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago All Blacks meet hosts Australia in mouthwatering clash as England face Wales at 2027 Rugby World Cup

Ireland will take on Scotland in the pool stage while reigning champions South Africa could meet New Zealand in the quarter-finals

Sport

3 w. ago Hosts Australia to face New Zealand in Rugby World Cup pool as England draw Wales

Champions South Africa face Italy, Georgia and RomaniaIreland and Scotland in pool with Uruguay and PortugalThe host nation Australia will face their traditional rivals New Zealand at the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027 after the draw was made in Sydney on Wednesday. The Wallabies, hosting a second men’s tournament, were guaranteed to face a top-ranked nation in Pool A due to a current world ranking of seventh, and the renewal of their fierce rivalry with the All Blacks is perhaps the most appetising possible outcome from the draw.The potential for a “Bledisloe Cup” opening match to kick off the global showpiece, on 1 October 2027 in Perth, will be a hugely attractive prospect for fans. Chile, playing at a second Rugby World Cup after their debut in France in 2023, and debutants Hong Kong are also in Pool A. England, who won the men’s tournament in Australia 22 years ago, have been pitted against their Six Nations rivals Wales, with Tonga and Zimbabwe the other sides in Pool F. Wales ...

Politics

3 w. ago Wales' path through the Rugby World Cup as likely knockout opponents emerge

The pools for the 2027 Rugby World Cup have been confirmed with Steve Tandy and his team learning their opponents

Politics

3 w. ago England will face Wales in the 2027 Rugby World Cup group stages, as Scotland and Ireland also drawn in tough pool

NIK SIMON: England will face Wales in the group stages of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Ireland and Scotland also drawn in the same group. 

Politics

3 w. ago Rugby World Cup draw in full: England to face Wales after avoiding 'pool of death'

Australia to meet New Zealand as Steve Borthwick’s side learn opponents

Events

3 w. ago Rugby World Cup 2027 draw: Australia and New Zealand drawn in Pool A – live

England and Wales together in Pool FAny thoughts? Email AngusOur panellists are installed behind big red buckets. What will they pluck from within them? And whose destiny will be decided by their fickle fingers of fate?All Black legend Dan Carter recalls seeing the first RWC as a seven-year-old and going on to play in four tournaments. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago South Africa’s route to Rugby World Cup 2027 final after draw

The defending champions are hot favourites and are seeking a third triumph in a row

Sport

3 w. ago Rugby World Cup 2027 draw made as England's route to glory becomes clear

England have been drawn in a group with Wales for the Rugby World Cup in 2027 with New Zealand or South Africa among their possible opponents should they reach the final

Politics

3 w. ago England’s route to Rugby World Cup 2027 final after learning pool opponents in draw

Steve Borthwick’s side have won 11 matches in a row and are growing in confidence as they enter 2026

Sport

3 w. ago England to face Wales in group stage at 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup

Ireland and Scotland and hosts Australia and New Zealand were also drawn together.

Politics

3 w. ago Rugby World Cup 2027 draw live: England, Springboks, All Blacks and more find out opponents

The Springboks eye a third successive triumph, with 24 teams finding out their fate for the largest World Cup ever in Australia in 2027

Sport

3 w. ago Rugby World Cup 2027 draw live: England, Springboks, All Blacks and more to find out opponents

The Springboks eye a third successive triumph, with 24 teams set to find out their fate for the largest World Cup ever in Australia in 2027

Sport

3 w. ago How to watch Rugby World Cup 2027 draw, live stream and start time

Everything you need to know about the upcoming draw in Sydney

Sport