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England and Wales will face off in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing win, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

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

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, 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 last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six group winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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