England and Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.
This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.
Key Pool Pairings
The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing win, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.
Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.
Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their own group.
Tournament Ramifications
If the groups play out according to the current global standings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.
In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.
Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener
Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.
Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the event.
In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.
Larger Format for 2027
Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in 2023.
This edition will feature a last-16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence.
While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.
A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play a team that finished third from the pool stages.
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
