The English side and Wales find themselves placed in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.
This draw recalls their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.
Key Group Pairings
Ireland and the Scots also share a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.
Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.
Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the Springboks top their own group.
Tournament Ramifications
Should the pools play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish all the way to the final.
In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.
Hosts Draw Major Opener
Hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.
The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the competition.
In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.
Larger Format for 2027
Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.
This edition will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's history.
Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.
A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the initial group phase.
RWC 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
