The English along with Welsh Pitted Together for the 2027 World Cup in Australia

The English side and Wales have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a convincing win, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the pools play out according to the current global standings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

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

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in the competition's existence.

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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