The English and Wales Drawn Together for 2027 Rugby World Cup Down Under

The English side together with Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland failing to advance 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 cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa before the final, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish until the final.

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

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

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

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

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

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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