England and Welsh Pitted Together for the 2027 World Cup Down Under

England together with Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with their opponents unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks before the final, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

RWC 2027 Draw

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