The English side together with Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.
This draw recalls their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock early exit.
Other Notable Pool Pairings
Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.
Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.
Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their own group.
Knockout Ramifications
Should the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland until the final.
In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.
Hosts Face Major Opener
Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.
Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the event.
In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.
Larger Tournament for 2027
Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.
The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in the competition's existence.
Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.
A total of four of the other six group winners will face 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
