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England and Wales have been drawn in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock early exit.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a group together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a convincing win, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, round out that same group.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the final, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

Should the pools play out according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of England and the Irish until the championship decider.

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

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at launch the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

This edition will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the other six pool winners will face a third-placed side 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