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England together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group 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 Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock early exit.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland and the Scots also share a pool together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups conclude according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both England and the Irish all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on that side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the event.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.

This edition will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the other six pool winners will face a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

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