South Africa were drawn in Pool B for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. The hosts have to face New Zealand in Pool A.
South Africa will play against Italy, Georgia and Romania in their 2027 Rugby World Cup pool, as the defending champions hope to become the first nation to win three global showpieces in a row.
It’s a straightforward group with the Springboks only having lost once against any of their three opponents and none of those three have ever reached the play-offs before.
Pools A and E will likely be the most hotly contested.
Hosts Australia face Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand, as well as Chile and Hong Kong China in pool A. France, Japan, USA and Samoa battle it out in pool E.
See the full pool list below.
Springbok record v opponents
Italy are ranked 10th in the world and have already lost to the Springboks three times this year. They lost 42-24 in Pretoria, 55-10 in Gqeberha in July and 32-14 in Turin in November despite having a player advantage for the whole of the second half.
In 11 clashes, Italy have only won once. They won their 2016 Test 20-18 but lost their next six matches against South Africa.
Georgia, ranked 13th, lost 55-10 when they played the Boks in Gqeberha in July. They have lost against the Springboks three times, conceding at least 40 points on each occasion.
Romania are ranked 22nd and have played the Springboks twice. They lost 21-8 during a 1995 World Cup match in Cape Town, and lost 76-0 in a 2023 match in Bordeaux.
The top two teams from each pool and the four best third-place finishers progress into the round of 16.
The only teams eliminated after the pools are the two lowest third-placed teams and all six fourth-placed teams.
The winners of Pool A, B, C, and D will take on the four best third-placed teams, while the winners of Pool E and F will face the runners-up from Pool B and D. The runners-up in Pool A and C, in turn, will meet the second-placed teams from Pool E and F in the Round of 16.
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World Cup pools
Pool A: Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Hong Kong, China
Pool B: South Africa, Italy, Georgia, Romania
Pool C: Argentina, Fiji, Spain, Canada
Pool D: Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay, Portugal
Pool E: France, Japan, USA, Samoa
Pool F: England, Wales, Tonga, Zimbabwe
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World Cup facts
The Springboks lifted the trophy in 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2023. Their four titles are more than any other nation, with New Zealand one behind.
Twenty-four teams take part in the tournament from 1 October to 13 November 2027 – more than ever before.
Australia host the tournament for the third time. Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Townsville are the host cities.
Zimbabwe last appeared in the Rugby World Cup back in 1991.
