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The English side and Wales will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

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

Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups conclude according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

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

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

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

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

This edition will feature a last-16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third 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