The Albany Gazette - Rugby World Cup draw: who, how and when?

It will be the biggest Rugby World Cup, with 24 teams, compared to 20 in recent editions.

AFP Sport looks at how the draw works and what teams are involved.

- How does the draw work? -

The 24 teams will be placed in six pools of four, A to F.

The top two in each pool, plus the four best third-placed teams, will all reach the last 16 knockout round.

For the draw, teams are split into four bands of six, based on world rankings. Band 1 is South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France and Argentina.

Those six will be in separate pools in the first round.

Joining them in each pool will be one team each from bands 2-4. The lowest-ranked teams are in band 4.

The draw will take place at a television studio in Sydney with the participation of former New Zealand World Cup winner Dan Carter and Australia prop James Slipper, who retired this summer after his 151st cap.

Hosts Australia are in band 2, so a theoretical "Group of Death" could be: South Africa, Australia, Georgia (from band 3) and Samoa (band 4).

The Springboks are reigning champions and currently top the rankings.

At the other end of the scale, Hong Kong have qualified for the first time in their history.

- How does it compare to previous World Cups? -

More teams means an extra knockout round and slightly more matches -- 52 games compared to 48 last time.

Another change is from five teams in each pool to four, so one fewer match for each team in the group stage.

For example, when South Africa won the World Cup 2023 they played seven games: four in the pool stage and a quarter-final, a semi-final and final.

If they were to reach the final in 2027 they would still play seven games: three in the pool stage, then round of 16, a quarter-final, semi-final and final.

The knockout brackets are already mapped out. So for example, the winner of Pool E will face the Pool D runner-up in the last 16.

According to World Rugby, the 2023 tournament lasted 50 days while the 2027 edition will be 43 days.

- Where are the matches and when? -

This is the first men's Rugby World Cup in Australia since 2003, when the home side were beaten in the final by England.

Once the groups are finalised on Wednesday, World Rugby and the local organising committee will reveal the stadiums that will host games.

The only certainties so far are that the opening match will feature Australia and be at Perth Stadium on Friday, October 1, 2027.

The final will be held at Sydney's 83,000-seat Accor Stadium on Saturday, November 13.

The other host cities will be Melbourne, Adelaide, Townsville, Newcastle and Brisbane, which will also stage the 2032 Olympics.

Band 1: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Argentina

Band 2: Australia, Fiji, Scotland, Italy, Wales, Japan

Band 3: Georgia, Uruguay, Spain, United States, Chile, Tonga

Band 4: Samoa, Portugal, Romania, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, Canada

(A.Moore--TAG)