2027 Men's Rugby World Cup – Africa qualification

2027 Men's Rugby World Cup – Africa qualification
Tournament details
Dates20 July 2024 – 19 July 2025
No. of nations16
← 2023
2031 →

The qualifying process for the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup for African teams began in July 2024, with 16 teams competing for one qualification spot (Africa 1) into the final tournament and one spot in a play-off match (Africa 2).[1]

The African qualifying process concluded in July 2025, with Zimbabwe qualifying for the World Cup as Africa 1, which saw the Sables return to the World Cup for the first time since 1991.

Format

The Rugby Africa Cup, governed by Rugby Africa, was the regional qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup 2027, with the top two divisions in the region acting as the process.

Qualification took place over three rounds;

  • Round 1 was the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup, where the top eight African nations (excluding South Africa) played in a straight knock-out format to determine seedings (1–7) for the third round of the qualification process. The bottom placed side at the end of the first round, was eliminated from qualification.
  • Round 2 was a repechage round between the eight development African nations, which saw the winner progress to the third round of the regional qualification as eighth seed replacing the eliminated team from round 1.
  • Round 3 was the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup, where the eight competing teams faced each other in a straight knock-out format based on their seedings in 2024; 1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v 5. The winner of this round qualified for the Rugby World Cup as Africa 1, whilst the runner-up advanced to a play-off match against Asia 2 to decide who progresses to the Final Qualification Tournament.

Entrants

Eight teams competed during for the Africa qualifiers for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with South Africa the only team qualified from the Region prior to the qualification process.

(Rankings as of first qualification match in this region)

Nation Rank Began play Qualifying status
 Algeria 59 20 July 2024 Eliminated by Namibia on 13 July 2025
 Botswana 77 20 November 2024 Eliminated by Morocco on 20 November 2024
 Burkina Faso 92 20 July 2024 Eliminated by Ivory Coast on 28 July 2024
 Cameroon 108 20 November 2024 Eliminated by Madagascar on 20 November 2024
 Ghana 87 18 December 2024 Eliminated by Zambia on 18 December 2024
 Ivory Coast 62 20 July 2024 Eliminated by Algeria on 8 July 2025
 Kenya 34 20 July 2024 Eliminated by Zimbabwe on 13 July 2025
 Morocco 39 20 November 2024 Eliminated by Zimbabwe on 8 July 2025
 Madagascar 48 20 November 2024 Eliminated by Morocco on 24 November 2024
 Namibia 26 20 July 2024 Advances to Asia / Africa play-off as Africa 2 on 19 July 2025
 Nigeria 69 18 December 2024 Eliminated by Tunisia on 18 December 2024
 Senegal 56 20 July 2024 Eliminated by Namibia on 8 July 2025
 South Africa 1 N/A Qualified with Top 12 finish at 2023 World Cup
 Tunisia 46 18 December 2024 Eliminated by Morocco on 9 February 2025
 Uganda 43 20 July 2024 Eliminated by Kenya on 8 July 2025
 Zambia 68 18 December 2024 Eliminated by Tunisia on 22 December 2024
 Zimbabwe 27 20 July 2024 Qualified as Africa 1 on 19 July 2025

Round 1: 2024 Rugby Africa Cup

The first round was a straight knock-out tournament held from 20 to 28 July 2024 in Kampala, Uganda.[2]

Burkina Faso finished bottom and were therefore eliminated, whilst the remaining seven teams advancing to the third round.

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Namibia38
 
 
 
 Burkina Faso5
 
 Namibia10
 
 
 
 Zimbabwe32
 
 Zimbabwe22
 
 
 
 Uganda20
 
 Zimbabwe29
 
 
 
 Algeria3
 
 Kenya36
 
 
 
 Senegal17
 
 Kenya12
 
 
 
 Algeria20 Third place
 
 Algeria32
 
 
 
 Ivory Coast12
 
 Namibia38
 
 
 Kenya27
 

Quarter-finals

20 July 2024
10:00
Namibia 38–5 Burkina Faso
Report
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
20 July 2024
12:00
Kenya 36–17 Senegal
Report
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
20 July 2024
14:00
Algeria 32–12 Ivory Coast
Report
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Julien Caulier (France)
20 July 2024
16:00
Zimbabwe 22–20 Uganda
Report
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Benjamin Beuriot (France)

Semi-finals

24 July 2024
14:00
Kenya 12–20 Algeria
Report
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Julien Caulier (France)
24 July 2024
16:00
Namibia 10–32 Zimbabwe
Report
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)

Third place match

28 July 2024
14:00
Kenya 27–38 Namibia
Report
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Talent Gandiwa (Zimbabwe)

Final

28 July 2024
16:00
Zimbabwe 29–3 Algeria
Report
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Julien Caulier (France)

Ranking matches

 
Semi-finals5th/6th
 
      
 
 
 
 
 Uganda25
 
 
 
 Burkina Faso15
 
 Uganda34
 
 
 
 Senegal31
 
 Senegal25
 
 
 Ivory Coast8
 
7th/8th
 
 
 
 
 
 Ivory Coast23
 
 
 Burkina Faso10

Semi-finals

24 July 2024
10:00
Senegal 25–8 Ivory Coast
Report
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Stéphane Rakotonirainy (Madagascar)
24 July 2024
12:00
Uganda 25–15 Burkina Faso
Report
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Nicardo Pienaar (Namibia)

5th/6th play-off

28 July 2024
12:00
Uganda 34–31 Senegal
Report
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Zaid Isaaccs (Namibia)

Relegation play-off

28 July 2024
10:00
Ivory Coast 23–10 Burkina Faso
Report
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Benjamin Beuriot (France)

Final standings

Pos. Team Notes
1  Zimbabwe
2  Algeria
3  Namibia
4  Kenya
5  Uganda
6  Senegal
7  Ivory Coast
8  Burkina Faso Eliminated

Round 2: 2024 Rugby Africa Repechage

Pool A

Pool A was a knock-out tournament held between the 18–22 December 2024 in Jemmal, Tunisia.

Tunisia won the pool and advanced to the Repechage Final, whilst Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia were eliminated.

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
 
 
 
 Tunisia34
 
 
 
 Nigeria10
 
 Tunisia29
 
 
 
 Zambia7
 
 Zambia31
 
 
 Ghana22
 
Third place
 
 
 
 
 
 Nigeria19
 
 
 Ghana24

Semi-finals

18 December 2024
11:00
Zambia 31–22 Ghana
Report
Stade Municipal de Jemmal, Jemmal
Referee: Zaid Isaacs (Namibia)
18 December 2024
14:00
Tunisia 34–10 Nigeria
Report
Stade Municipal de Jemmal, Jemmal
Referee: Sylvain Mane (Senegal)

Third place match

22 December 2024
11:00
Nigeria 19–24 Ghana
Report
Stade Municipal de Jemmal, Jemmal
Referee: Victor Oduor (Kenya)

Final

22 December 2024
14:00
Tunisia 29–7 Zambia
Report
Stade Municipal de Jemmal, Jemmal
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)

Pool B

Pool B was a knock-out tournament held between the 20–24 November 2024 in Casablanca, Morocco.

Morocco won the pool and advanced to the Repechage Final, whilst Botswana, Cameroon and Madagascar were eliminated.

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
 
 
 
 Madagascar33
 
 
 
 Cameroon7
 
 Morocco53
 
 
 
 Madagascar37
 
 Morocco64
 
 
 Botswana0
 
Third place
 
 
 
 
 
 Botswana36
 
 
 Cameroon10

Semi-finals

20 November 2024
13:00
Morocco 64–0 Botswana
Report
Stade du COC, Casablanca
Referee: Talent Gandiwa (Zimbabwe)
20 November 2024
15:30
Madagascar 33–7 Cameroon
Report
Stade du COC, Casablanca
Referee: Zaid Isaacs (Namibia)

Third place match

24 November 2024
10:00
Botswana 36–10 Cameroon
Stade du COC, Casablanca
Referee: Talent Gandiwa (Zimbabwe)

Final

24 November 2024
13:00
Morocco 53–37 Madagascar
Stade du COC, Casablanca
Referee: Nicardo Pienaar (Namibia)

Repechage Final

Morocco won the repechage match to progress to the third round, whilst Tunisia were eliminated.

9 February 2025
16:00
Morocco 26–12 Tunisia
Report
Père Jégo Stadium, Casablanca
Referee: Zaid Isaacs (Namibia)

Round 3: 2025 Rugby Africa Cup

Main article: 2025 Rugby Africa Cup

The third round saw a straight knockout format based on final positions in the first round, with the winner qualifying for the World Cup as Africa 1, whilst the runner-up (Africa 2) progressed to an Asia / Africa play-off match against Asia 2 (United Arab Emirates) to decide who plays in the Final Qualification Tournament.[3]

Like the first round, Kampala, Uganda hosted the tournament between 8 and 19 July 2025.[4]

Zimbabwe won the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup to qualify for the World Cup, whilst runners-up Namibia advanced to the cross-regional play-offs. Algeria, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal and Uganda were eliminated.

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Algeria41
 
 
 
 Ivory Coast6
 
 Algeria7
 
 
 
 Namibia21
 
 Namibia55
 
 
 
 Senegal17
 
 Namibia28
 
 
 
 Zimbabwe30
 
 Zimbabwe43
 
 
 
 Morocco8
 
 Zimbabwe29
 
 
 
 Kenya23 Third place
 
 Kenya32
 
 
 
 Uganda24
 
 Algeria15
 
 
 Kenya5
 

Quarter-finals

8 July 2025
10:00
Zimbabwe 43–8 Morocco
Try: Mafura 22' c
Sigauke 60' c
Gurwe 68' c
Utete 75' c
Con: Prior (4/4) 23', 60', 68', 76'
Pen: Prior (4/4) 10', 16', 40', 58'		Report
WR details		Try: Achahbar 3' m
Pen: Khattabi (1/1) 64'
Cards: Achahbar Yellow card 73'
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Zaid Isaacs (Namibia)
8 July 2025
12:00
Algeria 41–6 Ivory Coast
Try: Queheille 37' m
Penalty try 46'
Megdoud (2) 53' m, 66' c
Makri 59' c
Tronc 79' c
Con: Caminati (3/5) 59', 66', 80'
Pen: Caminati (1/3) 24'		Report
WR details		Pen: Traore (2/2) 30', 40'
Cards: Martin Yellow card 13'
Diomande Yellow card 36'
Traore Yellow card 46'
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Anthony Diaz (France)
8 July 2025
14:00
Namibia 55–17 Senegal
Try: Retief 6' c
Meyer 35' c
van den Berg 50' c
Ludick 58' c
Combrinck 68' c
Kearns 73' m
Malan 77' c
Booysen 80' m
Con: Swanepoel (2/2) 7', 36'
Loubser (4/6) 51', 58', 69', 78'
Pen: Swanepoel (1/1) 28'		Report
WR details		Try: Fofana 39' c
Soumah (2) 42' m, 54' m
Con: Sakho (1/3) 40'
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Paul Mente (South Africa)
8 July 2025
16:00
Kenya 32–24 Uganda
Try: Chao (2) 20' m, 63' c
Young 33' c
Nyambua 58' c
Con: Ejakait (1/2) 34'
Tavaga (2/2) 59', 64'
Drop: Young (2/2) 44', 78'		Report
WR details		Try: Ofoyrwoth 37' c
Wokorach 69' c
Oketayot 72' c
Con: Wokorach (3/3) 38', 69', 73'
Pen: Wokorach (1/3) 51'
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Sylvain Mane (Senegal)

Semi-finals

13 July 2025
14:00
Algeria 7–21 Namibia
Try: Makri 17' c
Con: Caminati (1/1) 17'		Report
WR Report		Try: ǃGaoseb 24' m
Loubser 28' c
Con: Loubser (1/2) 28'
Pen: Loubser (4/4) 13', 29', 46', 50'
Cards: Hardwick Yellow card 71'
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Sylvain Mane (Senegal)
13 July 2025
16:00
Zimbabwe 29–23 Kenya
Try: Mudzekenyedzi 3' m
Mudariki 22' m
Fraser 63' c
Con: Prior (1/2) 64'
Pen: Prior (3/3) 14', 75', 77'
Drop: Prior (1/1) 69'		Report
WR details		Try: Sifuna 6' m
Chao 40' c
Tavaga 80' m
Con: Tavaga (1/3) 40'
Pen: Tavaga (2/2) 21', 27'
Cards: Chao Yellow card 17'
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Ronald Wutimber (Uganda)

Third place match

19 July 2025
12:00
Algeria 15–5 Kenya
Try: Caminati 2' m
Djebbari 21' c
Con: Kralfa (1/2) 22'
Drop: Kralfa (1/1) 72'
Cards: Macani Yellow card 28'
Djebbari Yellow card 36'		Report
WR details		Try: Akala 10' m
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Talent Gandiwa (Zimbabwe)

Final: Africa 1 play-off

19 July 2025
16:00
Namibia 28–30 Zimbabwe
Try: ǃGaoseb 35' c
Nel 61' m
Swanepoel 71' c
Con: Loubser (1/1) 35'
Swanepoel (1/1) 71'
Pen: Loubser (3/3) 4', 10', 21'		Report
WR details		Try: Mashawi 18' c
Muzanargwo 44' c
Mudzekenyedzi 59' c
Con: Prior (3/3) 18', 45', 60'
Pen: Prior (3/4) 8', 13', 26'
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Paul Mente (South Africa)

Ranking matches

 
Semi-finals5th/6th
 
      
 
 
 
 
 Ivory Coast3
 
 
 
 Senegal28
 
 Senegal (a.s.d)33
 
 
 
 Morocco28
 
 Morocco24
 
 
 Uganda12
 
7th/8th
 
 
 
 
 
 Ivory Coast17
 
 
 Uganda37

Semi-finals

13 July 2025
10:00
Ivory Coast 3–28 Senegal
Pen: Traore (1/2) 3'
Cards: Kone Yellow card 30'
Martin Yellow card 31'
Coulibaly Yellow card 46'		Report
WR details		Try: Hounkpatin 19' c
Fofana 31' c
Mendy 79' m
Con: Sall (2/3) 20', 33'
Pen: Sall (3/4) 20', 60', 74'
Cards: Correa Yellow card 45'
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Stéphane Rakotonirainy (Madagascar)
13 July 2025
12:00
Morocco 24–12 Uganda
Try: Elkhaoulani 14' c
Bachiri 20' c
Qadiri 54' m
Fadli 69' m
Con: El Kadri (2/3) 14', 22'
Cards: Youmouri Yellow card 23'
Achahbar Yellow card 64'		Report
WR details		Try: Wokorach (2) 65' m, 77' c
Con: Wokorach (1/2) 77'
Cards: Oketayot Yellow card 68'
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Benjamin Beuriot (France)

5th/6th play-off

19 July 2025
10:00
Senegal 33–28 (a.s.d) Morocco
Try: Cisse 5' m
Niang 53' c
Kane 78' c
Ndiaye 99'
Con: Sakho (2/2) 53', 78'
Pen: Sall (1/1) 40'
Sakho (1/1) 40', 72'
Cards: Silla Yellow card 27'
Cisse Yellow card 80+2'		Report
WR details		Try: Hou 38' c
Qadiri 63' m
El Khattabi 80+3' c
Con: El Khattabi (2/3) 38', 80+3'
Pen: El Khattabi (3/3) 30', 42', 74'
Cards: El Ansari Yellow card 46'
Jnaoui Yellow card 51'
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Benjamin Beuriot (France)

7th/8th play-off

19 July 2025
14:00
Ivory Coast 17–37 Uganda
Try: Kone 15' m
Coulibaly 38' m
Houtou 57' c
Con: Nacanabo (1/1) 58'
Cards: Anokoua Yellow card 12'
Bassono Yellow card 67'		Report
WR details		Try: Aturinda 18' m
Kasito 29' c
Jadwong 44' c
Kisiga 46' c
Munyani 70' m
Con: Wokorach (1/2) 30'
Walker (2/3) 44', 47'
Pen: Walker (2/2) 60', 67'
Mandela National Stadium, Kampala
Referee: Nicardo Pienaar (Namibia)

Final Standings

Pos. Team Qualification
1st place, gold medalist(s)  Zimbabwe Qualified for the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup
2nd place, silver medalist(s)  Namibia Qualified for the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup – Regional play-off
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)  Algeria Eliminated
4  Kenya Eliminated
5  Senegal Eliminated
6  Morocco Eliminated
7  Uganda Eliminated
8  Ivory Coast Eliminated

See also

References

  1. ^ "Qualification process confirmed for expanded Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia". Women's and Men's Rugby World Cup. 13 August 2024.
  2. ^ "2024 Rugby Africa Cup, 18th to 29th July 2024 in Kampala, Uganda". www.ncs.go.ug. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  3. ^ "We will need to be a lot better – Sables Coach on Africa Cup Draw". Rugby Africa. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Uganda Welcomes 2024 Rugby Africa Cup for Historic Continental Tournament". Rugby Africa. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
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