England and Wales Drawn in the Same Group for the 2027 World Cup in Australia

The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the pools conclude according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France.

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

Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will face a team that finished third 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