England along with Welsh Pitted in the Same Group for the 2027 World Cup Down Under

The English side together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

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

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and world number one South Africa until the final, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites 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 top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

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

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will face a third-placed side from the pool stages.

Rugby World Cup 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