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The English side together with Wales have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing win, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that same group.

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

Knockout Ramifications

Should the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both the English and Ireland all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will introduce a round of 16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

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

A total of four of the other six group winners will play 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