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England together with Wales find themselves placed in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a 36-14 win, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools play out according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish until the final.

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

Tournament Hosts Face Major Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

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

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

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

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

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