🔗 Share this article

England together with Wales find themselves placed in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Key Group Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the final, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the pools play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

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

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in the competition's existence.

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining 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