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England together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa before the final, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play 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