The English and Welsh Placed Together for 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia

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

This draw recalls their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish and the Scots also share a group once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland until the championship decider.

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

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to launch the competition.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in France.

This edition will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

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

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