The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.
This pairing echoes their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.
Other Notable Group Pairings
The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.
Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in France, round out that same group.
Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.
Tournament Implications
If the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish all the way to the final.
In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.
Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture
Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.
The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the event.
Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.
Larger Format for 2027
Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France.
This edition will feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in the competition's history.
While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.
A total of four of the other six group winners will play 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
