The English along with Wales Pitted in the Same Group for the 2027 World Cup in Australia

The English side and Wales will face off in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

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

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa before the final, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

If the groups conclude according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish until the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a last-16 round for the first time in the competition's existence.

Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – probably the Italians – 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.

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