🔗 Share this article

The English side and Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Other Notable Group Draws

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

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa before the final, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

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

RWC 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