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The English side and Wales have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a group together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in France, round out that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the pools play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Face Major Opener

Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

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

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six group winners will play 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