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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish and Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the event.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023.

This edition will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's existence.

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

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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