The English and Wales Pitted Together for the 2027 World Cup in Australia

The English side together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock early exit.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish and Scotland also share a group together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and world number one South Africa before the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in France.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will face a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

Rugby World Cup 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