🔗 Share this article

England together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a major early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will face 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