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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a pool once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa before the final, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

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 Ireland all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

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

Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.

This edition will feature a last-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 rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the other six group winners will play a team that finished third 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