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The English side together with Wales will face off in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Draws

The Irish and Scotland also share a group once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing win, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the groups play out according to the current world rankings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both the English and Ireland until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

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

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

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger 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 2023.

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

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

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

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