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England together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing win, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the very 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 Italy – in the last 16.

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

RWC 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