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England together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland and Scotland also share a group together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six group winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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