Fiji has drawn pool C for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, in Australia. Photo credit: AFP.
Source: RNZ Pacific
Pacific Island unions Fiji and Tonga believe their teams have been given good chances to advance past the first stage of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Tonga’s ‘Ikale Tahi coach Tevita Tuifu’a believes the team has a great opportunity to make the round of 16 at the tournament.
Fiji Rugby Union board chairman John Sanday says he is excited about the fact Fiji has drawn Argentina in the same pool, a repeat of the first World Cup pool in 1987.
Following Wednesday night’s pool draws in Sydney, Tonga has been slotted into pool F with England, Wales and Zimbabwe.
The world competition, to be played across Australia from October 2027, will for the first time feature 24 teams, drawn into six pools of four teams each.
The top two teams from each of the six pools will be joined by the best four third-placed teams in the round of 16, which will be the qualifiers for the quarterfinals.
Tevita says Tonga is happy with their pool and is hopeful the 2026 season will give the team the opportunity to prepare well for the world contest.
“It’s a good pool for us,” Tevita adds.
“The work now begins for us to seriously get into gear and make sure everyone is focused and on board with our campaign 101 percent.”
Tonga will compete in the new World Rugby Nations Cup, which will be played across the July and November international windows in 2026 and 2028.
The team will also compete in the Pacific Nations Cup in 2027, before the World Cp.
The 2026 World Rugby Nations Cup will also feature Canada, Chile, Georgia, Hong Kong China, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Spain, Uruguay, USA and Zimbabwe.
Tevita says that competition will give them the opportunity to test themselves and he is hopeful ‘Ikale Tahi will be able to secure their top and best players by then.
FRU chairman excited
FRU chairman John says the Flying Fijians and Argentina clash in pool C of the 2027 Rugby World Cup will be a repeat of the inaugural 1987 event.
He was in the Flying Fijians team that beat Argentina 28-9 at the first-ever World Cup, held in Aotearoa New Zealand 38 years ago.
John says the pool drawn last night, which also includes Spain and Canada, was a good one for Fiji.
“It is exciting and reminds me of the 1987 World Cup – that match against Argentina and that will be repeated this time around,” the former Fiji loose forward says.
“Spain and Canada are no pushovers but we will prepare well for the games and turn up to win, especially against the Argentina Pumas.”
What also excites John is current Argetina Rugby president Gabriel Travaglini also played for the Pumas at the 1987 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and was on the field against Fiji back then.
“It is telling and God-given since it is the first time ever again after the 1987 Rugby World Cup that we are in the same pool again, especially so when two survivors of that great game are the respective chairpersons of the two unions, Fiji and Argentina,” John says.
He adds the 2026 international calendar for the Flying Fijians will help prepare them well.
Fiji will compete in the Nations Championship alongside England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan during the July and November test windows in 2026.
“It will be the best-ever campaign and preparation for the 2027 world cup,” he says.
Meanwhile, fellow Pacific nation Samoa has drawn pool E, alongside Japan, France and the Unites States.
Top match-ups
The All Blacks will face the Wallabies in their pool at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with the likelihood they will clash in the tournament’s opening game.
Both sides have been drawn in pool A, along with qualifiers Chile and Hong Kong China – two sides the All Blacks have never played in a test match.
The Springboks will be looking for an unprecedented third World Cup win in a row.
South Africa has drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania in pool B, and sets up a probable quarter-final between the All Blacks and Springboks.
Other major team match-ups see Ireland and Scotland in pool D, while England and Wales are both in pool F.
The tournament will be the first in an expanded format, featuring six pools of four teams, with the top two teams from each pool plus the four best third-placed teams qualifying for the knock-out phase.
Australia will host the World Cup for the second time, after the 2003 edition in which the Wallabies went in as defending champions only to lose to England in the final.
To date, it is the only time a northern hemisphere side has won the World Cup.
The World Cup will take place in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Townsville and Newcastle.
Sydney’s Accor Stadium will host the final, while Perth’s Optus Stadium will have the opening game of the tournament on October 1, 2027.
Match schedules will be announced on February 3, 2026.
- Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, 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
