England together with Wales have been drawn in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.
This draw mirrors their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's shock group stage elimination.
Key Group Pairings
The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.
Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs 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 South Africa before the final, presuming the South Africans top their own group.
Knockout Implications
Should the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the final.
Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.
Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener
Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.
Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the event.
Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.
Expanded Format for 2027
Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.
The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 stage for the very first time in the competition's history.
While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.
A total of four of the other six group winners will play 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
