SYDNEY — The draw for the men’s 2027 Rugby World Cup takes place in Sydney today. 

It will be the biggest Rugby World Cup, with 24 teams, compared to 20 in recent editions.

AFP Sport looks at how the draw works and what teams are involved.

The 24 teams will be placed in six pools of four, A to F.

The top two in each pool, plus the four best third-placed teams, will all reach the last 16 knockout round.

For the draw, teams are split into four bands of six, based on world rankings. Band 1 is South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France and Argentina.

Those six will be in separate pools in the first round.

Joining them in each pool will be one team each from bands 2-4. The lowest-ranked teams are in band 4.

The draw will take place at a television studio in Sydney with the participation of former New Zealand World Cup winner Dan Carter and Australia prop James Slipper, who retired this summer after his 151st cap.

Hosts Australia are in band 2, so a theoretical “Group of Death” could be: South Africa, Australia, Georgia (from band 3) and Samoa (band 4).

The Springboks are reigning champions and currently top the rankings.

At the other end of the scale, Hong Kong have qualified for the first time in their history.