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The English side and Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a pool together, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.

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

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

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