🔗 Share this article

The English side and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a pool together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing win, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the groups conclude according to the current global standings, further top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's existence.

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play 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