🔗 Share this article

England and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a pool once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in France, round out that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the pools conclude according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the event.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

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

While the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

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