England and Welsh Pitted in the Same Group for 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia

The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their infamous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools play out in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland until the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia 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 been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

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

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

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

Rugby World Cup 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