England and Wales Pitted Together for 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia

England and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa before the final, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

If the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

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

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

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

This edition will introduce a round of 16 stage for the first time in the competition's existence.

Although the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six group winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages.

Rugby World Cup 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