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England together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

Ireland and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

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

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

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

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

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

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

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

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

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will play 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