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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 major early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a pool once again, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

Should the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at launch the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

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

This edition will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's history.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face 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