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The English side and Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

The Irish and the Scots also share a pool together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools play out according to the current global standings, further top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 stage for the first time in the competition's history.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play 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