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England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a group together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, presuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the pools conclude according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Opener

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in France.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

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