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England and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a convincing victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa before the final, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups play out according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland until the final.

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

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in France.

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

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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