England and Welsh Pitted in the Same Group for the 2027 World Cup in Australia

England together with Wales have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a pool together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the final, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools play out according to the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to launch the event.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

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

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

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