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The English side and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to progress to the knockout stages.

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

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

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

Rugby World Cup 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