The English side and Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.
This pairing mirrors their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.
Other Notable Group Draws
Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.
Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D.
Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their own group.
Knockout Implications
If the pools play out according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish all the way to the final.
Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.
Hosts Draw Major Opener
Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.
Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the event.
In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.
Larger Format for 2027
Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in France.
This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup 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 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 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
