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The English side and Wales will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a pool once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

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

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both England and the Irish until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada 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 very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

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