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England and Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a major early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the final, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the groups play out according to the current global standings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

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

Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

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

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of 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