Key Highlights
- England and Wales paired together in the pool stages of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
- Tonga and Zimbabwe complete the lineup for Pool F.
- The pair met famously at the same stage in the 2015 tournament, with Wales’ victory contributing to England’s early exit from that event.
- Wales head coach Steve Tandy insists their team can be one others want to avoid.
Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw: England and Wales in Same Pool
The draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup held significant implications, with England and Wales being paired together in Pool F. This arrangement is reminiscent of their encounter during the 2015 tournament, where Wales’ victory at Twickenham led to England’s early exit. This time around, both teams are eager for a passionate and spirited match.
Pool F Lineup
In addition to England and Wales, Tonga and Zimbabwe complete the Pool F lineup. While Tonga is a seasoned participant, Zimbabwe makes its first appearance at the tournament since 1991. The presence of these teams adds an intriguing dynamic to the pool stages.
Reactions from Coaches
England’s coach Simon Borthwick expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming match:
“Every game when England and Wales play against each other is full of passion and spirit, and that’s going to be no different. There are going to be thousands of England supporters, thousands of Wales supporters, along with people based already over there, travelling across the world to get to it. It’s going to be awesome.”
Wales head coach Steve Tandy also voiced his team’s ambition:
“You want to be a team that no-one wants to play. We’ve got to grow our game so that we can go there with ambition.”
Pools and Knockout Stages
The draw also revealed the pools for other teams, including Ireland and Scotland sharing Pool D just as they did at France 2023. In this hypothetical situation, if Ireland finished first in their pool and Scotland second, a meeting against France would be likely for Scotland. Meanwhile, host Australia has been drawn together with New Zealand and the All Blacks in Pool A.
The tournament has expanded to 24 teams from the 20 who participated in France in 2023, with a last-16 knockout round included for the first time. Despite their current form, Wales see an opportunity to progress as at least runners-up in Pool F.
The full fixture list will be revealed in February, but the draw has already set the stage for intense competition and passionate matches across all pools.
