England and Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.
This draw echoes their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.
Key Pool Pairings
The Irish and Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.
Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.
Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa until the final, assuming the South Africans win their own group.
Knockout Ramifications
If the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.
Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.
Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener
Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.
The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.
In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.
Larger Tournament for 2027
Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France.
This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence.
Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.
A total of four of the other six group winners will play 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
