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England together with Wales will face off in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish and the Scots also share a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa before the final, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

If the groups play out in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the final.

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

Hosts Draw Major Opener

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

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – 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.

RWC 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