🔗 Share this article

The English side and Wales will face off in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

If the pools play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both the English and Ireland until the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on that side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

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

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a last-16 round for the first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the pool stages.

RWC 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