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England and Wales will face off in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland and the Scots also share a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament 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 launch the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will face a third-placed side 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