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The English side together with Wales find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their infamous 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 early exit.

Key Group Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a pool together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in France, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to launch the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

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

While the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third 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