Ireland head coach Andy Farrell declined to comment on claims that his side received a favourable draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Ireland were placed in Pool D alongside Scotland, Uruguay and Portugal, and topping the group could keep them on the opposite side of the draw from France, New Zealand and defending champions South Africa.
Farrell, however, stressed the importance of focusing on Ireland’s own performances, noting that World Cups are unpredictable and all teams in the pool will share the same ambitions.
Ireland have never reached the semi-finals, having lost all eight quarter-finals in their history, including their 2023 defeat to the All Blacks in Farrell’s first World Cup as head coach. Despite mixed results in the recent autumn campaign, Farrell said he is committed to building a squad that truly believes it can win the tournament.
Preparations for 2027 are already under way, with Farrell meeting IRFU staff earlier in the day. Looking ahead to another World Cup clash with Scotland, as well as encounters with Uruguay and Portugal, he said he is excited for the challenge and highlighted the quality and threat that Scotland continue to pose.
