🔗 Share this article

England together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a pool once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the groups play out in line with the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both the English and Ireland until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team 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 the competition's history.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six group 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