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England together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and world number one South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups play out in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both England and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the other six group winners will play a team that finished third from the pool stages.

RWC 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