The English and Welsh Placed Together for RWC 2027 in Australia

The English side together with Wales will face off in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six group winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw

Pool A

• New Zealand
• Australia
• Chile
• Hong Kong

Pool B

• South Africa
• Italy
• Georgia
• Romania

Pool C

• Argentina
• Fiji
• Spain
• Canada

Pool D

• Ireland
• Scotland
• Uruguay
• Portugal

Pool E

• France
• Japan
• USA
• Samoa

Pool F

• England
• Wales
• Tonga
• Zimbabwe