🔗 Share this article

The English side together with Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock early exit.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish and Scotland also share a pool together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the final.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in 2023.

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

Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a third-placed side from the pool stages.

RWC 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