Following the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, South Africa and Zimbabwe are in Groups B and F respectively.
The draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup took place on December 3, 2025. The two African representatives, reigning world champions South Africa and Zimbabwe, have been placed in their pools. The Springboks are in Group B with Italy, Georgia, and Romania; while Zimbabwe will face England, Tonga, and Wales in Group F.
We are satisfied with the pool we are in. But this is a World Cup, and every team will play with great passion and give their best to proudly represent their country. There have been surprises in the competition before, so we need to be mentally and physically ready for every match.
In contrast to South Africa, which is a World Cup regular, Zimbabwe is making a major return to the competition after an absence of over 30 years. A new chapter is beginning for this team, which qualified by winning the Africa Gold Cup against Namibia (30-28) on July 19, 2025, ending a drought of several decades.
The real work starts now; we don’t want to go to the World Cup just to make up the numbers. We want to go there to compete, to put Zimbabwe on the map for the world to see.
As a reminder, the winner and runner-up from each pool will qualify for the knockout stage of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.