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The English side and Wales will face off in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, promising a major early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the groups play out according to the current global standings, further top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both the English and the Irish all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will face a third-placed side 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