2026 Rugby Union World Cup – There will be eight teams in each of the women's. The tournament will be made up of 24 teams, split into two. The revised format will introduce six pools of four teams and introduce a round of 16 prior to the quarterfinals. Home » rugby union won't be the same after 2026.
The 2027 rugby world cup in australia will see 24 teams taking part, up from the 20 competing in the current edition in france; The 2025 tournament will expand to 16 teams, providing the opportunity for more teams to compete on the biggest stage. Alongside this initiative, world rugby's council has endorsed an expansion of the world cup to accommodate 24 teams by the 2027 edition in australia. [1]the competition will consist of twelve teams, involving the current six nations (england, france, italy.
2026 Rugby Union World Cup
2026 Rugby Union World Cup
The rugby world cup 2027 draw is scheduled to occur in january 2026, providing a unique scenario with a full two years of international competition still to unfold. A european conference of six nations sides will play the rest of the world featuring the rugby championship teams and two others — tipped to be japan and fiji — in the july and november test windows culminating in a grand final in europe at the end of the. Rugby world cup 2021, playing in 2022, in new zealand will raise the bar after global successes in ireland, france and england.
The world rugby council met in france today to finalise and vote for the reform of international rugby, with the sport’s governing body announcing the changes. World rugby has announced a new competition starting in 2026 as part of a significant overhaul of the men’s international calendar. The six nations will lose a rest week to accommodate a new global men’s competition outside of the rugby world cup starting in 2026.
The 2025 men’s tournament was going to feature 16 teams, but this has been streamlined to 10 for 2026.

Rugby Union won't be the same after 2026

World Rugby confirms new international men's competition to launch in 2025 World Rugby
NRL 2025 Rugby League World Cup, 2026, RLWC2026, Australia, Peter V'landys; ARLC Rugby League World Cup 2026 hosting rights

2026 Rugby League World Cup Australia named as hosts for delayed tournament BBC Sport

Rugby League World Cup Southern hemisphere to host tournament in 2026 after France withdrawal Rugby League News Sky Sports

Rugby gets huge overhaul with new Nations Championship and expanded World Cup The Independent

Australia to host 2026 Rugby League World Cup The Independent

Rugby Sevens Cut from Commonwealth Games 2026 Americas Rugby News

The Road Ahead Mapping the Rugby World Cups and Olympics (20232036) YSCRugby Women's Rugby News

WOMEN'S 2026 WORLD CUP EUROPEAN QUALIFIER FRANCE 58 GREECE 0 REPORT SA Rugby League

Rugby World Cup 2027 expanded to 24 teams | Rugby World Cup 2023

Predicting the England team for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup Serious About Rugby League

Japan Deaf Rugby Union To Host 2026 World Deaf Rugby Sevens Championship RugbyAsia247

Qualification process confirmed for expanded Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia World Rugby

Rugby League World Cup moved to 2026 after withdrawal of France as 2025 host