The 2027 World Cup in Australia will expand from the current 20 to 24 teams, split into six first-round groups containing four sides each. LATER DRAWWR said the draw for the next World Cup would be made in January 2026, the latest it has ever been held before a tournament. WR said they had addressed this by the introduction of a Nations League competition, with two 12-team divisions. There will be a second division with a further 12 teams, which will be run by World Rugby. There will also be a new, annual expanded Pacific Nations Cup competition in 2024 featuring Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the United States.

---

Persons: ”, Sir Bill Beaumont, Beaumont, WR, Mitch Phillips, Mark Gleeson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Biennial Nations League, Rugby, Nations League, Six Nations, Rugby Championship, World Rugby, WR, Nations, Thomson Locations: PARIS, Paris, Australia, France, Japan, Fiji, Canada, Samoa, Tonga, United States