2027 Rugby World Cup pools announced as Zimbabwe land tough group

African rugby is set for a historic moment in 2027, with newly crowned continental champions Zimbabwe drawn in Pool F of the Rugby World Cup in Australia.

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The Sables will face England, Wales and Tonga as the tournament’s pool allocations were confirmed on Wednesday, 3 December.

The 2027 Rugby World Cup will run from Saturday, 1 October to Saturday, 13 November 2027, across Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Townsville.

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Hosts Australia will open the tournament in Perth, and the full match schedule will be released on February 3, 2026.

With 24 teams and a new six-pool format, the stage is set for one of the most competitive and globally inclusive World Cups yet.

Zimbabwe Sables booked their ticket to the global showpiece after edging Namibia 30–28 in a dramatic Rugby Africa Cup 2025 final at Kampala’s Mandela National Stadium in July.

The win not only secured back-to-back continental titles but also ended Zimbabwe’s 36-year absence from the Rugby World Cup; their last appearance came in 1991.

Their reward is a challenging but exciting group featuring two former world champions, England, as well as Wales and a powerful Tonga side.

Blockbuster clashes headline Pool A

Host nation Australia and arch-rivals New Zealand headline Pool A, setting up one of the fiercest rivalries in world rugby right from the group stage, a rarity in World Cup history.

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Traditionally, the Trans-Tasman giants clash deep in the knockout rounds, but 2027 will break new ground.

With New Zealand entering as the highest-ranked Band 1 team and currently on an 11-match winning streak against the Wallabies, the All Blacks are favourites to top the group.

Australia, however, buoyed by home support and eager to avenge recent Bledisloe Cup disappointments, will relish the rematch of the 2015 World Cup final.

The pool also includes Hong Kong China, and Chile, setting up four first-time fixtures in World Cup history.

Defending champions South Africa are expected to cruise through Pool B, where they face Italy, Georgia and Romania, arguably one of the tournament’s most straightforward groups.

The Springboks, four-time winners (1995, 2007, 2019, 2023), are overwhelming favourites to finish top.

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But the ease ends there.

Under the new expanded World Cup format, six pools of four teams, the top two and the four best third-place teams progress to a Round of 16. For South Africa, this likely means facing the third-placed team from Pools D, E or F, potentially Portugal, Samoa or Tonga.

If they advance, the quarter-finals could see them meet the winner of Pool A, almost certainly New Zealand or Australia. A semifinal against France is also on the horizon, with Scotland the only other realistic challenger on that side of the bracket.

Should the Springboks go all the way, they might repeat their 2023 knockout path, only in a different order: New Zealand, France, then England.

Pool C presents a physical and unpredictable mix with Argentina, Fiji, Spain and Canada.

Argentina and Fiji, both known for their blend of power and flair, are expected to dominate. For Canada, who qualified via the Pacific Nations Cup after missing the 2023 World Cup—this is a chance to break an 11-match winless run on rugby’s biggest stage. Their last World Cup victory came against Tonga in 2011.

Spain is likely to be Canada’s most realistic target, having narrowly beaten the Canadians 24–23 in Edmonton in June.

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Pool D features Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay and Portugal, setting up a potential Celtic showdown that could determine top spot.

France headline Pool E alongside Japan, the USA and Samoa.

The French are strong contenders to top the group, while Japan and Samoa will battle for the second spot. The USA returns to the World Cup after missing 2023, hoping to re-establish their global competitiveness.

Full Pool Draw for Rugby World Cup 2027

Pool A: Australia (hosts), Hong Kong China, Chile, New Zealand

Pool B: Romania, Georgia, Italy, South Africa

Pool C: Canada, Spain, Fiji, Argentina

Pool D: Portugal, Uruguay, Scotland, Ireland

Pool E: Samoa, USA, Japan, France

Pool F: Zimbabwe, Tonga, Wales, England