England along with Welsh Drawn in the Same Group for 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia

England and Wales will face off in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the event.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 stage for the first time in the competition's history.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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