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England together with Wales have been drawn in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a convincing win, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups play out in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to launch the event.

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

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

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

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play 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