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England and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a pool together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the pools play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

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 marquee match designed to launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France.

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

Although the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will face 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