🔗 Share this article

England and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a pool once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as underdogs in France, round out that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the final, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France 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 highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the first time in the competition's existence.

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

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