World Rugby announces Rugby World Cup expansion from 2027 and new Nations Championship tournament starting in 2026
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Published 24/10/2023 at 17:50 GMT
World Rugby made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon, with what includes an expansion to the current World Cup and a new Nations Championship tournament. Four more teams are set to take part in the next edition of the World Cup, with 24 teams included in 2027, rather than 20 competing in France this year. The Nations Championship will consist of 12 teams, before a second division is introduced.
Highlights: New Zealand thrash Argentina to reach 2023 Rugby World Cup final
World Rugby have announced that the Rugby World Cup will expand to 24 teams, while a new Nations Championship tournament is set to be launched.
The change to the men's World Cup will come into effect from the next edition of the tournament in Australia in 2027, while the Nations Championship will begin in 2026.
Despite the increased number of countries competing at the next World Cup and an additional round of 16 being introduced, the competition will be shortened from seven weeks to six.
The lopsided pool stage draw has been the cause of much controversy at the 2023 World Cup, having been made almost three years before the tournament, and the draw for the 2027 event has consequently been scheduled for January 2026.
The Nations Championship will include the top 12 sides from the northern and southern hemispheres, alongside a second tier of 12 teams, with promotion and relegation between the two being implemented from 2030.
The top division of the Nations Championship will be comprised of the Six Nations unions of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy, as well as the SANZAAR nations of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.
SANZAAR will determine the remaining two nations to compete in the top division, while World Rugby is going to take responsibility for the second division.
Matches in this competition are earmarked to be played in the July and November international windows.
Meanwhile, reforms were announced for the women's game, with confirmation that international and club fixtures will not overlap from 2026.
"Agreement on the men's and women's global calendars and their content is the most significant development in the sport since the game went professional," said World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont.
"[It is] a historic moment for our sport that sets us up collectively for success.
"We now look forward to an exciting new era commencing in 2026. An era that will bring certainty and opportunity for all.
"An era that will support the many, not the few, and an era that will supercharge the development of the sport beyond its traditional and often self-imposed boundaries.
"I would like to thank all my colleagues for their spirit of collaboration. We have achieved something special."
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