African champions Zimbabwe have been drawn against England, Wales and Tonga in Pool F as the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia was confirmed on Wednesday 3 December 2025.
The Sables, who featured at the first two editions in 1987 and 1991 beat Namibia 30-28 in Kampala, Uganda in July this year to win the African title and secure qualification after a 34 year wait.
The other African side, South Africa, who are the defending champions, will play out of Pool B where they are pitted against Italy, Georgia and Romania while hosts Australia have been drawn against perennial rivals New Zealand in Pool A alongside Chile and debutants Hong Kong China.
Argentina headline Pool C which also has Fiji, Spain and Canada while Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay and Portugal make up Pool D.
France are in Pool E with Japan, USA and Samoa.
The tournament was expanded to 24 teams for the 2027 edition, which kicks off in Perth on Oct. 1 and culminates in a Nov. 13 final in Sydney.
The teams were divided into four bands of six based on World Rugby rankings at the time of the draw. Each of the six pools contain one team from each of the four bands.
The addition of four teams in the draw means the tournament will have a Round of 16 for the first time, a stage that World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson predicted “brings greater jeopardy, earlier knockout drama, and even more entertainment from the opening matches.”
RWC 2027 – POOLS
Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong China
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
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