🔗 Share this article

England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a pool together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the final, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in the competition's existence.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

RWC 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