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The English side together with Wales will face off in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and world number one South Africa before the final, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both the English and Ireland until the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

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

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023.

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

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six group winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw

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