🔗 Share this article

England and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a major pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a group together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

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

Hosts Face Major Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the other six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages.

Rugby World Cup 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