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England and Wales have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and world number one South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the pools conclude according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the event.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

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

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

Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six pool 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