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England together with Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a major 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 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

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

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa before the final, presuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools play out according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland until the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

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

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will face 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