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England and Wales find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

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

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks before the final, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

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

While the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six group winners will play 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