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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

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

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in France, complete 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 final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the final.

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

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in France.

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

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

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