- Hong Kong China have qualified for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 after winning the Asia Rugby Championship.
- This marks the nation’s first-ever appearance at rugby’s premier global tournament.
- Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates finished second and remain in contention. They will face the runners-up of the Rugby Africa Cup 2025, held in Uganda from 8–19 July.
Hong Kong China’s men’s national 15-a-side team has clinched qualification for the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, following a commanding 70–22 win over Korea in the final round of the Asia Rugby Championship 2025.
This historic achievement marks the nation’s first-ever qualification for rugby’s premier global tournament.
In addition to securing the Asia Rugby Championship title, Hong Kong China has etched its name into the history books as only the second Asian country, after Japan, to reach the Men’s Rugby World Cup.
Their breakthrough follows several near-misses in recent years, including appearances in the Final Qualification Tournaments for both RWC 2019 and RWC 2023, where they narrowly missed out on a spot on the world stage.
This qualification underscores the steady evolution of the national rugby programme and reflects continued investment in the sport’s development across the region.
Currently ranked 23rd in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings, Hong Kong China will now prepare for the Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw, scheduled for December 2025, when they will discover their pool-stage opponents.
ALSO READ: Kubu in as Kenya Simbas name include 4 debutants final squad for Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifier
UAE eye qualification through Africa-Asia play-off
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates finished as runners-up in the Asia Rugby Championship 2025 and remain in the hunt for World Cup qualification.
They will face the runners-up of the Rugby Africa Cup 2025 – taking place in Uganda from 8 to 19 July 2025 – in a cross-regional play-off match on 26 July.
The winner of that encounter will progress to the Final Qualification Tournament, keeping alive their hopes of securing a place at Rugby World Cup 2027 on home soil in Dubai (8-18 November).
Who has qualified for the Rugby World Cup 2027?
The Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, hosted by Australia from 1 October to 13 November 2027, will usher in a new era for the sport.
With an expanded format of 24 teams, six pools of four, and the introduction of a round of 16, the tournament promises heightened drama and inclusivity.
The emergence of debutant teams like Hong Kong China and Spain, who qualified through the Rugby Europe Championship, reflects the sport’s global expansion and the increasing competitiveness of the qualification process.
ALSO READ: Why Jone Kubu made final Kenya Simbas squad despite missing SA camp
Qualified Teams for RWC 2027 (as of July 2025)
Africa
- South Africa (automatic)
- TBD
Asia
- Japan (automatic)
- Hong Kong China (Asia Rugby Championship)
Europe
- England (automatic)
- France (automatic)
- Ireland (automatic)
- Italy (automatic)
- Scotland (automatic)
- Wales (automatic)
- Georgia (Rugby Europe qualification)
- Spain (Rugby Europe qualification)
- Portugal (Rugby Europe qualification)
- Romania (Rugby Europe qualification)
Pacific
- Australia (host/automatic)
- New Zealand (automatic)
- Fiji (automatic)
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
South America:
- Argentina (automatic)
- TBD
Final Qualification
- TBD
- TBD
