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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a pool once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools play out according to the current world rankings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the final.

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

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in France.

This edition will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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