🔗 Share this article

The English side together with Wales find themselves placed in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to progress to the knockout stages.

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

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

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

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

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France.

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

Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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