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England together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks until the final, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and the Irish until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

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

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six pool 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