The English and Welsh Pitted in the Same Group for RWC 2027 in Australia

The English side together with Wales have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish and Scotland also share a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing win, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools play out according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Major Opener

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six group 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