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The English side and Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the groups play out according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in 2023.

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

Although the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

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

RWC 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