England and Welsh Pitted in the Same Group for 2027 Rugby World Cup Down Under

The English side together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a group once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools play out in line with the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

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

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

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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