The English side and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.
This pairing echoes their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock early exit.
Key Pool Draws
The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing win, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.
Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as underdogs in France, complete that same group.
Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.
Tournament Ramifications
Should the groups play out in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.
In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.
Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener
Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.
The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.
In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.
Larger Tournament for 2027
Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.
This edition will introduce a round of 16 stage for the very 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 initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.
Four of the remaining six group 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
