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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

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

Other Notable Group Pairings

The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

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

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play a third-placed side from the pool stages.

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