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The English side and Wales will face off in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and the Scots also share a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups play out according to the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in 2023.

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

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third 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