Positive reactions to the Rugby World Cup draw from Fiji, Tonga

5:24 am today

Iliesa Tora, RNZ Pacific senior sports reporter

Fiji's players led by Fiji's outside centre and captain Waisea Nayacalevu (L) perform the 'Cibi' ahead of the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Fiji and Portugal at the Stade de Toulouse in Toulouse, southwestern France on October 8, 2023. (Photo by Valentine CHAPUIS / AFP)

Photo: AFP / VALENTINE CHAPUIS

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 said he is excited about the fact that 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 meet, 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.

Tuifu'a said they are happy with their pool and is hopeful the 2026 season will give them the opportunity to prepare well for the world meet.

"It's a good pool for us," he said.

The Flying Fijians were made to work hard in Nuku'alofa on Friday, before three second-half tries made sure of a 50-19 defeat of Tonga and top spot in Pool A.

Fiji and Tonga clash at the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup. Photo: World Rugby

"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.

They will also compete in the Pacific Nations Cup in 2027, before the world cup.

The 2026 World Rugby Nations Cup will also feature Canada, Chile, Georgia, Hong Kong China, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Spain, Uruguay, USA and Zimbabwe.

Tuifu'a said that competition will give them the opprtunity to test themselves and he is hopeful that the 'Ikale Tahi will be able to secure their top and best players by then.

FRU chairman excited

FRU chairman Sanday said the Flying Fijians and Argentina clash in pool C of the 2027 Rugby World Cup will be a repeat of the inaugural 1987 event.

Sanday was in the Flying Fijians team that beat Argentina 28-9 at that first-ever World Cup, held in New Zealand 38 years ago.

He said 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 said.

"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 excited Sanday is the fact that 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," Sanday said.

He said 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 added.

Top match-ups

The All Blacks will face the Wallabies in their pool at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with the likelihood that 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.

Meanwhile, the Springboks will be looking for an unprecedented third World Cup win in a row. They've drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania in pool B.

South Africa's hooker Bongi Mbonambi's daughter, Esa (L), raises the Webb Ellis Cup in the air as she is carried by her father as South Africa's players celebrate winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup final. Photo: Emmanuel Dunand / AFP

This also 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. The top two teams from each pool plus the four best third-placed teams will qualify 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 1 October 2027.

Match schedules will be announced on Tuesday, 3 February 2026.