The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.
This pairing mirrors their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.
Key Group Draws
The Irish and the Scots also share a group together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.
Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.
Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks win their own group.
Tournament Ramifications
If the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the championship decider.
Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.
Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture
Hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.
Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the event.
In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.
Larger Format for 2027
Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.
This edition will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.
While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, 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 third-placed side 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
