World Cup line up is set as Samoans clinch final spot

FOR the first time ever, all of the teams competing in the Rugby World Cup have been confirmed ahead of the draw.

- BEN JAMES Rugby writer [e-mail]

Samoa’s 13-13 draw with Belgium on Tuesday confirmed their place as the 24th and final team to seal their place in the tournament in Australia in two years’ time.

Next month, all of the countries involved will learn their fate when the draw takes place on December 3 in Sydney.

The 2027 World Cup, which will take place in Australia from October 1 to November 13, will be expanded from 20 teams to 24.

The 12 sides that finished in the top three of their pools at the last World Cup in France qualified automatically.

That meant that France, New Zealand, Italy, Ireland, South Africa, Scotland, Wales, Fiji, Australia, England, Argentina and Japan all made it.

The rest of the sides involved booked their place through qualifying tournaments, with Georgia, Spain, Romania, Portugal, Tonga, Canada, United States, Uruguay, Chile, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong and Samoa all set to be involved Down Under in two years' time.