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England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

The Irish and Scotland also share a group together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the final, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools play out in line with the current global standings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both the English and Ireland until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.

This edition will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in the competition's existence.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining 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