The English and Welsh Placed in the Same Group for the 2027 World Cup Down Under

England together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their infamous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing win, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the pools play out according to the current global standings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to launch the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France.

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

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play 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