🔗 Share this article

The English side together with Wales have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

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

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

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

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 stage for the first time in the competition's history.

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will face 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