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The English side together with Wales will face off in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.

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

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa before the final, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the groups play out in line with the current global standings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Major Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

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

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six group 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