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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Group Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks before the final, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

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