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England and Wales find themselves placed in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a pool together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, presuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools play out according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the final.

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

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

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

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023.

This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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