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The English side and Wales find themselves placed in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw 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 early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

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

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will open the World Cup in 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, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format 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 took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the winner 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 Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining 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