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England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and the Scots also share a group once again, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools play out according to the current global standings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of England 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 those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

This edition will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play a third-placed side 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