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England and Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major early clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and the Scots also share a pool together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks before the final, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

If 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 Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining 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