England and Welsh Placed Together for 2027 Rugby World Cup Down Under

England together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a group together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing win, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools play out according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side 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 the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in France.

This edition will feature a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet 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 play a third-placed side 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