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England and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

Although the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the other six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

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