England together with Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.
This draw recalls their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.
Key Pool Draws
Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing win, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.
Uruguay and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D.
Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their own group.
Knockout Implications
If the pools play out according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.
In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.
Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture
Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.
Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.
In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.
Expanded Format for 2027
Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in 2023.
The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the first time in the competition's history.
Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.
Four of the other six group winners will play a third-placed side from the pool stages.
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