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The English side together with Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit.

Key Group Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the final.

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

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool 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.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 stage for the first time in the competition's existence.

Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play 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