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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a group together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the very 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 initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six group winners will face a third-placed side 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