🔗 Share this article

England and Wales find themselves placed in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing win, with their opponents failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros 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 holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools play out according to the current world rankings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-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 biggest beasts 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.

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