The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.
This pairing echoes their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.
Other Notable Group Pairings
Ireland and the Scots also share a group once again, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.
Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.
Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks before the final, presuming the Springboks win their own group.
Knockout Ramifications
If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and the Irish all the way to the final.
Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.
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 the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the event.
In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.
Expanded Format for 2027
Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.
This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the first time in the competition's existence.
Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.
Four of the other six group winners will play a team that finished third from the pool stages.
RWC 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
