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England together with Wales will face off in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a pool once again, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

If the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at launch the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

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

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will face a third-placed side 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