The English side together with Wales will face off in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.
This pairing recalls their infamous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.
Other Notable Pool Draws
The Irish and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.
Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in France, round out that same group.
Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.
Tournament Implications
If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both the English and the Irish until the final.
Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.
Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture
Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.
The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the event.
Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France 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 expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.
The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in the competition's history.
Although the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.
A total of four of the other six group 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
