England along with Wales Drawn in the Same Group for the 2027 World Cup in Australia

The English side and Wales have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising 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 infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman 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 fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence.

Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – 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 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