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England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool 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.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland and the Scots also share a pool once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

This edition will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the other six group 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