England together with Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.
This draw mirrors their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.
Other Notable Pool Pairings
The Irish and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.
Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.
Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans win their own group.
Tournament Ramifications
If the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish all the way to the final.
In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.
Tournament Hosts Face Major Opener
Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.
The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to launch the competition.
In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.
Larger Format for 2027
Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.
This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence.
Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.
Four of the remaining six pool winners will face 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
