🔗 Share this article

The English side and Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the final, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

Should the pools conclude according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and the Irish until the final.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the other six group winners will face a third-placed side from the pool stages.

RWC 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