🔗 Share this article

The English side and Wales have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the final.

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

Hosts Face Major Opener

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

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will face a third-placed side from the pool stages.

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