🔗 Share this article

England and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock early exit.

Key Group Pairings

Ireland and the Scots also share a group together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and world number one South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on that half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France.

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

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, 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 pool winners will play 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