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The English side together with Wales find themselves placed in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

If the pools play out in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

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

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

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

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six pool winners will face 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