🔗 Share this article

England together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

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

Other Notable Pool Draws

Ireland and Scotland also share a group once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

This edition will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

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

RWC 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