The English and Welsh Pitted in the Same Group for RWC 2027 Down Under

England and Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early clash in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their infamous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both the English and the Irish until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 stage for the first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the pool stages.

RWC 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