England along with Welsh Drawn Together for 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia

The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

Ireland and Scotland also share a pool once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the pools play out according to the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

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

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

This edition will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six group winners will face a third-placed side 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