Samoa have secured qualification for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 after drawing with Belgium 13-13 in the last match of the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai, UAE, on Tuesday.
After two opening wins against Brazil and Namibia, Samoa needed a draw against Belgium to win the tournament and clinch the last qualification place available and complete the line-up of the next expanded edition. Samoa’s triumph in the competition sees them become the 24th and final team to book their place at the tournament in Australia, adding to their proud Rugby World Cup history.
Australia 2027 will mark Samoa’s 10th appearance at rugby’s pinnacle competition, having featured in every tournament since 1991. Currently ranked 17th in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings, Samoa will also turn their attention to the Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw, set for 3 December at 20:00 AEDT (GMT+11) in Sydney, when they will learn the identity of their pool opponents.
Men's Rugby World Cup 2027: All you need to know about draw, format, pools and dates >>
RWC 2027 will be hosted in Australia from 1 October-13 November, 2027), ushering in a new era for the sport with 24 teams, six pools of four and a round of 16 for the first time. The tournament promises to showcase the very best of international rugby.
By qualifying for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, Manu Samoa have also confirmed their participation in the new World Rugby Nations Cup that is kicking off in 2026. They will join Canada, Chile, Georgia, Hong Kong China, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Tonga, Uruguay, USA and Zimbabwe in the 12-competition that will provide unprecedented certainty of fixtures and important preparations ahead of RWC 2027.
