Rugby World Cup 2027 pool schedule confirmed

Rugby World Cup organisers have released the match schedule for the 2027 tournament in Australia, confirming dates and venues for the pool-stage fixtures involving England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Hosts Australia will open the tournament on October 1 in Perth, marking the official start of the expanded 24-team competition. A key early fixture against traditional rivals New Zealand is scheduled for October 9 in Sydney.

England will begin their campaign on October 2 in Brisbane, while Wales also play their opening pool match on the same day in Adelaide.

Ireland start their tournament on October 4 in Sydney, with Scotland opening their campaign on October 4 at a separate Australian venue.

Defending champions South Africa will play their first pool match on October 3 in Adelaide as they begin their title defence.

The full pool schedule outlines matches across multiple cities, with venues spread nationwide as Australia hosts the Rugby World Cup for the first time since 2003.

The knock out stages will begin with the round of 16 on 23rd October with the semi-finals scheduled on 5th and 6th November. The final will take place at Stadium Australia in Sydney on 13th November.

Rugby World Cup 2027 schedule

Pool A

Fri, 1 Oct 18:45 Australia v Hong Kong China Perth Stadium
Sat, 2 Oct 13:15 New Zealand v Chile Perth Stadium
Sat, 9 Oct 17:10 New Zealand v Australia Stadium Australia
Sat, 9 Oct 20:15 Chile v Hong Kong China North Queensland Stadium
Fri, 15 Oct 17:15 New Zealand v Hong Kong China Docklands Stadium
Sat, 16 Oct 15:10 Australia v Chile Brisbane Stadium

Pool B

Sun, 3 Oct 14:15 South Africa v Italy Adelaide Oval
Sun, 3 Oct 20:15 Georgia v Romania North Queensland Stadium
Sun, 10 Oct 16:45 South Africa v Georgia Brisbane Stadium
Mon, 11 Oct 19:45 Italy v Romania Sydney Football Stadium
Sun, 17 Oct 12:15 Italy v Georgia Newcastle Stadium
Sun, 17 Oct 19:15 South Africa v Romania Perth Stadium

Pool C

Mon, 4 Oct 14:15 Fiji v Spain Newcastle Stadium
Mon, 4 Oct 18:45 Argentina v Canada Brisbane Stadium
Sun, 10 Oct 12:15 Fiji v Canada Adelaide Oval
Sun, 10 Oct 15:15 Argentina v Spain Docklands Stadium
Sat, 16 Oct 13:15 Argentina v Fiji Adelaide Oval
Sat, 16 Oct 20:15 Spain v Canada North Queensland Stadium

Pool D

Sun, 3 Oct 17:15 Scotland v Uruguay Docklands Stadium
Mon, 4 Oct 17:15 Ireland v Portugal Sydney Football Stadium
Sun, 10 Oct 17:45 Ireland v Scotland Perth Stadium
Mon, 11 Oct 17:15 Uruguay v Portugal Newcastle Stadium
Sun, 17 Oct 14:45 Ireland v Uruguay Docklands Stadium
Sun, 17 Oct 16:15 Scotland v Portugal Brisbane Stadium

Pool E

Sat, 2 Oct 17:45 France v USA Docklands Stadium, Melbourne | Narrm
Sun, 3 Oct 12:15 Japan v Samoa Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle | Awabakal-Worimi
Sat, 9 Oct 12:15 USA v Samoa Perth Stadium, Perth | Boorloo
Sat, 9 Oct 18:45 France v Japan Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane | Meeanjin
Fri, 15 Oct 20:00 Japan v USA Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | Tarntanya
Sun, 17 Oct 19:45 France v Samoa Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | Gadigal

Pool F

Sat, 2 Oct 12:15 Wales v Zimbabwe Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | Tarntanya
Sat, 2 Oct 20:15 England v Tonga Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane | Meeanjin
Fri, 8 Oct 18:15 Wales v Tonga Docklands Stadium, Melbourne | Narrm
Fri, 8 Oct 20:15 England v Zimbabwe Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | Tarntanya
Fri, 15 Oct 20:15 Tonga v Zimbabwe North Queensland Stadium, Townsville | Gurambilbarra
Sat, 16 Oct 19:45 England v Wales Stadium Australia, Sydney | Wangal