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England together with Wales will face off in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a pool together, replicating 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 impressed as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France 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 that half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's history.

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

A total of four of the remaining six group 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