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England together with Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

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

Key Pool Draws

The Irish and Scotland also share a pool together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing win, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

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

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the groups play out in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of England and the Irish until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 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 game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group 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