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The English side together with Wales will face off in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland and the Scots also share a pool together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a convincing win, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups play out in line with the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish until the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's existence.

While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will play a team that finished third 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