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England together with Wales will face off in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and Scotland also share a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing win, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools conclude according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish until the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

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

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in the competition's history.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six group winners will play a third-placed side from the pool stages.

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