England together with Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.
This draw recalls their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise early exit.
Other Notable Group Pairings
The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.
Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.
Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their own group.
Knockout Ramifications
If the groups play out in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both the English and Ireland until the final.
In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.
Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture
Hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.
Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the competition.
In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.
Larger Tournament for 2027
Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.
This edition will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.
While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.
Four of the other six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the initial group phase.
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
