England and Wales Pitted Together for the 2027 World Cup in Australia

The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock early exit.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the pools play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland until the championship decider.

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

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play a third-placed side 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