The 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup – Regional play-off and Final Qualification Tournament, which doubled as the Final Qualification Tournament for World Rugby Nations Championship's second division, were the final two stages of the qualifying process for the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup.
The play-offs began with two cross-regional play-off matches and concluded with the Final Qualification Tournament which was held at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai from 8 to 18 November 2025.
Format Asia / Africa play-off The first play-off was an Asia / Africa play-off one-off match between Asia 2 and Africa 2, which saw the winner earning a spot in the Final Qualification Tournament.
Pacific / Sudamérica qualifying play-off The other cross-regional play-off was a two-leg play-off series between Sudamérica 2 and Pacific 4, where the winner qualified for the World Cup and World Rugby Nations Championship's second division as the Sudamérica / Pacific play-off winner. The runner-up advanced to the Final Qualification Tournament as the final team in the FQT as the Sudamérica / Pacific play-off loser.
Final Qualification Tournament The Final Qualification Tournament was a round-robin tournament hosted at a neutral venue in Dubai, where the winner qualified for the World Cup.Final Qualification Tournament November 2025
The four participating teams were made up of two spots directly from regional qualifications; the fifth place team from Europe (Europe 5) and the third placed team from South America (Sudamérica 3). The two remaining spots were made up via cross-regional play-offs; the winner of the Asia / Africa play-off and the loser of the Pacific / Sudamérica qualifying play-off.
Teams Six teams progressed to the regional play-off and Final Qualification Tournament stages for the final two non-regional seeds in the World Cup.
(World rankings are as per date progressing to the play-off phase.)
Nation Rank Progression date Qualifying statusRegional Qualification play-offscolspan=4 (Africa 2) 27 19 July 2025 Advanced to FQT on 26 July 2025 (Asia 2) 40 5 July 2025 Eliminated by Namibia on 26 July 2025colspan=4 (Sudamérica 2) 20 6 September 2025 Qualified on 27 September 2025 as Pacific/Sudamérica qualifying play-off winner (Pacific 4) 15 14 September 2025 Advanced to FQT on 27 September 2025 Final Qualification Tournament (Europe 5) 26 15 March 2025 Eliminated by Samoa on 18 November 2025 (Asia / Africa play-off winner) 27 26 July 2025 Eliminated by Samoa on 13 November 2025 (Sudamérica 3) 32 18 October 2025 Eliminated by Belgium on 13 November 2025 (Pacific / Sudamérica play-off loser) 16 27 September 2025 Qualified on 18 November 2025 as Final Qualification Tournament winner
Asia/Africa play-off The Asia / Africa play-off was played in Kampala, Uganda, which had also hosted the final stage of the African qualification process.
The match took place a week after the final of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup and three weeks after the final match in the 2025 Asia Rugby Championship.
Namibia won the play-off match and progressed the to the Final Qualification Tournament, whilst the United Arab Emirates were eliminated.
Team details FB 15Aaron Dubois RW 14Niko Volavola OC 13Sakiusa NaisauIC 12Jack StapleyLW 11Mohammad Ali Bandari FH 10Max JohnsonSH 9 Andrew Semple (c)N8 8 Emosi RatuvecanuaOF 7 Bradley JanesBF 6 Ethan MatthewsRL 5 Esekaia Dranibota LL 4 Marcus Guerin TP 3 Riaan Barnard HK 2 Moeneeb GalantLP 1 Pieter Killian Replacements:PR 16Epeli Davetawalu HK 17Lukas Waddington PR 19Micahel SejeanFL 30Matt Mills WG 21Tobias Oakeley SH 23Sam Bullock WG 33Liam Caldwell Coach: Jacques Benade FB 15Cliven Loubser RW 14Danie van der MerweOC 13Alcino IzaacsIC 12Danco BurgerLW 11Jurgen Meyer FH 10André van den BergSH 9 AJ Kearns N8 8 Richard Hardwick OF 7 Max KatjijekoBF 6 Prince ǃGaoseb (c) RL 5 Tiaan de Klerk LL 4 Oliver Kurz TP 3 Jason Benade HK 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld LP 1 Otja Auala Replacements:HK 16Armand Combrinck PR 17Haitembu Shikufa PR 18Sidney Halupé LK 19Adriaan Ludick FL 20Riaan Grove SH 21Aston Mukwilongo WG 22Quirione Majiedt FL 23Adriaan Booysen Coach: Jacques Burger Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) Adam Leal (England) Television match official: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Pacific/Sudamérica qualifying play-off
Leg 1
Team details FB 15Lolagi VisiniaRW 14Elisapeta Alofipo OC 13Melani NanaiIC 12Theodore SteffanyLW 11Latrell Ah KiongFH 10Christian Leali'ifanoSH 9 Connor Tupai N8 8 Iakopo Mapu OF 7 Alamanda MotugaBF 6 Olajuwon Noa RL 5 Michael Curry LL 4 Ben Nee-NeeTP 3 Michael Alaalatoa (c) HK 2 Pita Anae Ah-Sue LP 1 Aki Seiuli Substitutions:HK 16Ray Niuia PR 17Jarred Adams PR 18Brad Amituanai FL 19Potu Leavasa Jr. FL 20Abraham Papali'i SH 21Joel Lam CE 22Henry TaefuFB 23Tomasi Alosio Coach: Tusi Pisi FB 15Cristóbal Game RW 14Nicolás Garafulic OC 13Matías GarafulicIC 12Santiago VidelaLW 11Iñaki AyarzaFH 10Juan Cruz Reyes SH 9 Benjamín Videla N8 8 Alfonso EscobarOF 7 Clemente Saavedra (c)BF 6 Raimundo Martínez RL 5 Javier EissmannLL 4 Santiago PedreroTP 3 Iñaki Gurruchaga HK 2 Diego Escobar LP 1 Javier Carrasco Substitutions:HK 16Augusto Böhme PR 17Norman Aguayo PR 18Matías Dittus LK 19Bruno Sáez FL 20Ernesto Tchimino SH 21Lucas Berti CE 22Nicolás Saab FH 23Tomás SalasCoach: Pablo Lemoine Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England) Lex Weiner (United States) Television match official: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa) Foul play review officer: Mike Adamson (Scotland) Notes: Theodore Steffany (Samoa) made his international debut.
Leg 2
Team details FB 15Iñaki AyarzaRW 14Matías GarafulicOC 13Domingo Saavedra IC 12Santiago VidelaLW 11Nicolás SaabFH 10Rodrigo Fernández SH 9 Benjamín Videla N8 8 Alfonso EscobarOF 7 Clemente Saavedra (c)BF 6 Raimundo MartínezRL 5 Javier Eissmann LL 4 Santiago Pedrero TP 3 Iñaki Gurruchaga HK 2 Diego Escobar LP 1 Javier Carrasco Substitutions:HK 16Augusto Böhme PR 17Emilio Shea PR 18Matías Dittus LK 19Bruno Sáez FL 20Ernesto Tchimino SH 21Lucas Berti FH 22Juan Cruz Reyes WG 23Cristóbal Game Coach: Pablo Lemoine FB 15Lolagi VisiniaRW 14Tomasi AlosioOC 13Melani NanaiIC 12Theodore SteffanyLW 11Latrell Ah Kiong FH 10Martini Talapusi SH 9 Connor Tupai N8 8 Abraham Papali'iOF 7 Alamanda Motuga (cc)BF 6 Olajuwon Noa RL 5 Michael Curry LL 4 Ben Nee-Nee (cc)TP 3 Brad Amituanai HK 2 Pita Anae Ah-Sue LP 1 Jarred Adams Substitutions:HK 16Ray Niuia PR 17Marco Fepulea'i PR 18Herman Huch FL 19Potu Leavasa Jr. FL 20Jonah Mau'u SH 21Rilloy Suesue FH 22Afa Moleli FB 23Elisapeta Alofipo Coach: Tusi Pisi Assistant referees: Damián Schneider (Argentina) Tomás Bertazza (Argentina) Television match official: Marcelo Pilara (Argentina) Notes: Emilio Shea (Chile), Marco Fepulea'i, Herman Huch and Rilloy Suesue (all Samoa) made their internationals debuts. This was Chile's first win over Samoa Chile move up to 17th on the World Rugby Rankings, their highest position, and qualified for the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup, the first time they have appeared in back-to-back tournaments (after their debut in 2023).
Final Qualification Tournament
Fixtures The fixtures for the 2027 Final Qualification Tournament were announced on 19 October 2025, in addition to the referee appointments.RWC 2027 Final Qualification Tournament
Paraguay initially qualified for the FQT after defeating Brazil 70–43 on aggregate in the Sudamérica 3 play-off matches. However, after it was discovered that Paraguay had fielded an ineligible player during those matches, they withdrew and were replaced by Brazil.
Round 1
Team details FB 15Jacob UmagaRW 14Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong OC 13Melani Nanai IC 12Tumua Manu LW 11Va'a Apelu MalikoFH 10Rodney IonaSH 9 Jonathan Taumateine N8 8 Iakopo MapuOF 7 Alamanda Motuga BF 6 Theo McFarland (c) RL 5 Michael CurryLL 4 Ben Nee-NeeTP 3 Tietie Tuimauga HK 2 Mills Sanerivi LP 1 Jarred Adams Substitutions:HK 16Luteru Tolai PR 17Titi Lamositele PR 18Michael Alaalatoa FL 19Taleni Seu FL 20Niko Jones SH 21Connor Tupai CE 22Faletoi Peni CE 23Lalomilo Lalomilo Coach: Tusi Pisi FB 15Lucas Tranquez RW 14Théo BastardieOC 13Lorenzo Massari (c) IC 12Raphael Hollister LW 11Robert TenórioFH 10João AmaralSH 9 Lucas SpagoN8 8 André Arruda OF 7 Matheus CláudioBF 6 Adrio de MeloRL 5 Gabriel Oliveira LL 4 Matteo Dell’Acqua TP 3 Leonel Moreno HK 2 Wilton Rebolo LP 1 Caique Segura Substitutions:HK 16Henrique Ferreira PR 17Brendon Alves PR 18Vicente Galvão LK 19Ben Donald FL 20Renato Santos SH 21Devon Muller FH 22Thiago Oviedo WG 23Robson Morais Coach: Josh Reeves Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland) Griffin Colby (South Africa) Television match official: Brett Cronan (Australia) Notes: Mills Sanerivi, Faletoi Peni and Va'a Apelu Maliko (all Samoa) made their international debuts. This was the first meeting between these two nations.
Team details FB 15Siméon Soenen RW 14Ervin Muric OC 13Florian Remue IC 12Maxime VacquierLW 11Thomas Wallraf FH 10Matias RemueSH 9 Julien Berger N8 8 Felipe Geraghty OF 7 William Van BostBF 6 Jean-Maurice Decubber (c)RL 5 Maximilien Hendrickx LL 4 Toon DeceuninckTP 3 Jean-Baptiste de Clercq HK 2 Alexandre Raynier LP 1 Charlesty Berguet Substitutions:HK 16Vincent Tauzia PR 17Bruno Vliegen PR 18Maxime Jadot FL 19Maurice Fromont FL 20Jérémie Brasseur SH 21Isaac Montoisy FH 22Hugo De Francq WG 23Dazzy Cornez Coach: Laurent Dossat FB 15Jay-Cee NelRW 14Divan RossouwOC 13Johan DeyselIC 12Danco Burger LW 11J. C. GreylingFH 10André van den Berg SH 9 TC Kisting N8 8 Adriaan Booysen OF 7 Max KatjijekoBF 6 Wian Conradie RL 5 Tiaan de Klerk LL 4 Adriaan Ludick TP 3 Haitembu Shikufa HK 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (c) LP 1 Otja Auala Substitutions:HK 16Torsten van Jaarsveld PR 17Gianluca Savoldelli PR 18Aranos Coetzee LK 19Johan Retief FL 20Prince ǃGaoseb FL 21Johan Luttig SH 22Jacques Theron FH 23Cliven Loubser Coach: Pieter Rossouw Assistant referees: Damián Schneider (Argentina) Griffin Colby (South Africa) Television match official: Brett Cronan (Australia) Notes: Gianluca Savoldelli (Namibia) made his international debut. This was the first meeting between these two nations.
Round 2
Team details FB 15Siméon SoenenRW 14Ervin Muric OC 13Florian RemueIC 12Maxime VacquierLW 11Thomas Wallraf FH 10Matias RemueSH 9 Julien Berger N8 8 Felipe Geraghty OF 7 William Van BostBF 6 Jean-Maurice Decubber (c)RL 5 Maximilien Hendrickx LL 4 Toon Deceuninck TP 3 Jean-Baptiste de Clercq HK 2 Alexandre Raynier LP 1 Charlesty Berguet Substitutions:PR 16Basile van Parys HK 17Vincent Tauzia PR 18Maxime Jadot LK 19Maurice Fromont FL 20Jérémie Brasseur SH 21Isaac Montoisy WG 22Dazzy Cornez SH 23Timothé Rifon Coach: Laurent Dossat FB 15Thiago OviedoRW 14Théo BastardieOC 13Lorenzo Massari (c)IC 12Raphael Hollister LW 11Robert TenórioFH 10João AmaralSH 9 Lucas SpagoN8 8 André ArrudaOF 7 Matheus Cláudio BF 6 Adrio de MeloRL 5 Gabriel Oliveira LL 4 Matteo Dell’Acqua TP 3 Wilton Rebolo HK 2 Henrique Ferreira LP 1 Caique Segura Substitutions:HK 16Yan Rosetti PR 17Brendon Alves PR 18Leonel Moreno LK 19Ben Donald FL 20Hélder Lúcio FL 21Devon Muller SH 22Gustavo GobetiFB 23Lucas Tranquez Coach: Josh Reeves Assistant referees: Jordan Way (Australia) Griffin Colby (South Africa) Television match official: Brett Cronan (Australia) Notes: André Arruda (Brazil) earned his 50th test cap. This was Belgium's first win over Brazil.