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England and Wales have been drawn together in Pool F for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which will be held in Australia. Joining them in this group are Tonga and Zimbabwe, the latter making their first tournament appearance since 1991. This grouping brings back memories of their meeting in the 2015 World Cup pool stages, when Wales secured a win at Twickenham that contributed to England’s early departure from the competition.
England and Wales matches are known for their intense passion and energy, according to England’s head coach Borthwick. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said, “Every game when England and Wales play against each other is full of passion and spirit. And that’s going to be no different. There’s going to be thousands of England supporters, thousands of Wales supporters, along with people based already over there, travelling across the world to get to it. It’s going to be awesome.” Such a clash will surely attract significant attention and enthusiasm from supporters worldwide.
Another notable pool features Ireland and Scotland in Pool D, mirroring their grouping at the 2023 World Cup in France. In that tournament, Ireland convincingly defeated Scotland 36-14, leading to Scotland’s failure to advance past the pool stages. Uruguay and Portugal, two underdog teams that earned respect in France, also join this pool. The winners of both Pool D and Pool F are set up to avoid facing the reigning champions, South Africa, until the final, assuming the Springboks top their own group.
The tournament structure aims to separate leading contenders based on rankings. If rankings hold true, New Zealand and France—both strong contenders for the trophy—would be kept apart from England and Ireland until the final stages. Argentina would appear on the same side of the knockout bracket as England and Ireland. Although Wales have struggled recently, winning just two of their last 22 Tests, they remain well-placed to progress, potentially securing the runner-up spot in their pool behind England. Tonga and Zimbabwe, both lower-ranked, round out Pool F. The runner-up of Pool F is scheduled to face the runner-up of Pool C—made up of Argentina, Fiji, Canada, and Spain—once the knockout rounds begin. Meanwhile, if Scotland finishes second behind Ireland, a match against France seems highly probable.
Hosts Australia find themselves in Pool A alongside their trans-Tasman rivals, the New Zealand All Blacks, who have won the World Cup three times. The Wallabies will kick off the tournament on October 1, 2027, in Perth. Other notable pools include South Africa’s group, featuring Italy, Georgia, and Romania, while France will be grouped with Japan, the USA (who will host the 2031 tournament), and Samoa. This upcoming World Cup marks an expansion from 20 to 24 teams, introducing a last-16 knockout round for the first time. Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the sport’s top-ranked teams early on, their path to the quarterfinals includes a round of 16 clash against the runner-up from Pool B, likely Italy. Additionally, four pool winners will face third-placed teams in the knockout stages, adding a layer of complexity to the route toward the final
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