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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

Ireland and the Scots also share a group once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the final, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and the Irish all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023.

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

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six group winners will play a third-placed side 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