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The English side together with Wales have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools play out according to the current world rankings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the event.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos 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 take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

This edition will feature a round of 16 round for the very 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 have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six pool winners will face 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