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The English side and Wales have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a convincing victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas 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 Australia have been drawn alongside 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 marquee match aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

This edition will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in the competition's history.

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages.

Rugby World Cup 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