🔗 Share this article

The English side and Wales will face off in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their famous 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 shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

Ireland and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one South Africa until the final, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the pools play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish until the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Major Opener

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

Rugby World Cup 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