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England together with Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock early exit.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a pool together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

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

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six group 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