World Cup chiefs plan expanded 24-team tournament in 2027 in a bid to develop Tier Two nations – with bye weeks axed and more midweek games

• World Cup organisers have declared a commitment to helping Tier Two nations
• An expanded event would have six pools of four teams and a reduced schedule
• Teams were against two-week break between some pool fixtures in France 

World Cup bosses have held talks over expanding the 2027 tournament to 24 teams and trimming a week off the bloated schedule.

Mail Sport understands that the new tournament would grow to six pools of four teams, but cut back from seven weeks to six with no need for bye weeks in the pool stage — after feedback that this year’s competition is too long. 

Teams were against the two-week break between some pool fixtures, which limits momentum.

The switch will result in more midweek fixtures.

The expansion comes after World Cup organisers declared a commitment to give the sport’s Tier Two nations greater opportunity to continue developing, despite them being shut out from the new Nations Championship — which starts in 2026 — until at least 2030.

World Cup organisers have declared a commitment to Tier Two nations such as Chile

England are understood to have held talks with Samoa about playing a Test at Twickenham

Meanwhile, England are understood to have held talks with Samoa about playing a Test against them at Twickenham in November 2024, after the Pacific Islanders gave them an almighty scare in their final pool game last week.

Any fixture scheduling needs to be signed off by World Rugby later this year.

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