England together with Wales have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.
This draw recalls their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.
Key Pool Draws
Ireland alongside Scotland also share a pool once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.
Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in France, complete that same group.
Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa before the final, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.
Tournament Ramifications
Should the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish until the final.
In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.
Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture
Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.
The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the event.
Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.
Larger Tournament for 2027
Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament grows 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 existence.
While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.
Four of the other six group winners will face a third-placed side 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
