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England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

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

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the groups play out according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France.

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

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six group winners will play a third-placed side 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