🔗 Share this article

England and Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland and Scotland also share a pool once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland until the final.

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

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

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

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup 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 Group B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six pool 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