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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock early exit.

Other Notable Group Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a pool once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools conclude according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six group winners will play a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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