England and Wales will face off in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.
This draw echoes their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock early exit.
Key Group Pairings
The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.
Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.
Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.
Tournament Implications
Should the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.
In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.
Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener
Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.
Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the competition.
Elsewhere, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.
Larger Format for 2027
Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France.
This edition will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.
Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.
Four of the remaining six group winners will face a third-placed side from the pool stages.
RWC 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
