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England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France.

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

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six pool winners will face a team that finished third 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