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The English side together with Wales will face off in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early clash in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland and Scotland also share a pool together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa before the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both the English and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Major Opener

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the first time in the competition's existence.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will face a third-placed side 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