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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Key Group Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a group together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in France, round out that same group.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools play out according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

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

In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six group 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