England together with Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.
This draw echoes their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.
Other Notable Pool Pairings
The Irish and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.
Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.
Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the final, presuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.
Tournament Ramifications
If the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.
In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.
Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture
Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.
Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the event.
Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.
Larger Tournament for 2027
Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.
The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.
While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.
Four of the other six pool 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
