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The English side and Wales will face off in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their infamous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing win, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages 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 South Africa until the final, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

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

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to launch the competition.

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

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina 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 last-16 stage for the first time in the competition's existence.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play 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