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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

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

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a pool together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the final, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in the competition's history.

While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

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

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