🔗 Share this article

The English side together with Wales have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

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

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools play out according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both the English and the Irish until the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play 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