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England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Group Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group once again, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing win, with their opponents unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the final, presuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools play out in line with the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the final.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks 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 jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

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

Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third 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