England together with Wales will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.
This pairing echoes their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.
Key Group Draws
The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.
Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D.
Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa before the final, presuming the Springboks win their own group.
Knockout Ramifications
Should the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland until the final.
Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.
Hosts Face Major Fixture
Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.
Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the competition.
In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.
Larger Format for 2027
Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.
The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 stage for the first time in the competition's existence.
While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – 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.
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
