🔗 Share this article

The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

This edition will feature 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 initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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