England and Wales Drawn Together for RWC 2027 Down Under

The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish and the Scots also share a pool together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.

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

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland until the final.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six group winners will face a team that finished third 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