🔗 Share this article

The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

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

Notably, 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 South Africans win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in the competition's history.

While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will play a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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