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The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

The Irish and Scotland also share a group together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish until the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

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

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third 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