Samoa’s qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup has added to the rise of Rugby in the Pacific as the region continues to go from strength to strength.
The Samoans survived a nervous final period to come away with a 13-all draw against Belgium, enough to secure the final qualification spot on account of bonus point wins over Namibia and the UAE.
Watch the 2027 Rugby World Cup Draw live and on demand via Stan Sport.
It ensures the proud Rugby nation will feature at its 10th straight World Cup, with five or more Pacific teams at the hallmark event for the ninth time in its history.
Former Wallaby Scott Sio was one of several new inclusions in the team and reflected on what it meant to the country.
“I think it's very special. Rugby is part of the way of life in Samoa. There's been numerous teams that have gone to the World Cup and done some amazing things. And we want to be no different to that,” the former Brumby said.
“So we know there's a lot of stepping stones between now and then that we've got to get through and build through as a group. It wasn't pretty, but you've got to take the result.”
“I’m just proud of the boys, proud of the coaching staff,” captain Theo McFarland added.
“It's been a challenging year. It's been tough. The challenges that these boys face every year to get to this point, to get to wear this jersey, and it’s a small nation but we've got the ticket now (to RWC 2027), so I'm just proud, proud, of this team, this group, and it's only upward from here.”
It continues a massive period for the region after the confirmation of Fiji’s appearance in next year’s Nations Championship.
As a result, the Flying Fijians will face every team in the Six Nations, a tournament designed to give them more opportunities to test themselves against the best.
On top of this, Samoa will now join Tonga in the Nations Cup, which will run at the same time as this tournament to provide valuable game time ahead of the 2027 event.
Rugby Australia’s Head of Pacific Partnerships, Dan Millis, believes the presence of all three nations in big tournaments, coupled with the World Cup, reflects the ever-growing stature the sport finds itself in throughout the region.
“The rise of Pacific rugby is one of the great stories in our sport. For Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga to navigate such a demanding qualification pathway is a phenomenal achievement and a clear sign of how competitive and truly global rugby has become,” he said.
“We can’t wait to welcome our Pacific rugby family to Australia in 2027, and we’re committed to deepening our partnership to strengthen rugby right across our region as we build toward the 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cups.
“A massive thank you to the Australian Government for its continued backing of high-performance rugby development in the Pacific. The results speak for themselves.”
“The partnership between Lakapi Samoa and Australia keeps growing stronger, and with Samoa now qualified for the World Cup, the excitement is real. As we look ahead to Australia 2027, let’s work together to make it feel like a home World Cup for Samoa and our whole Pacific family," CEO Lakapi Samoa, Seumanu Douglas Ngau Chun, added.
Rugby Australia’s Pacific partnerships are boosted by the support of the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program that funds high performance pathways and development opportunities for players, coaches and rugby administrators in the Pacific.
