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England and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a pool once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the groups play out according to the current world rankings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and the Irish all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages.

Rugby World Cup 2027 Groups

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