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England together with Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland and Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa before the final, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

If the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

This edition will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of Pool F 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 Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six pool winners will face 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