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England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

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

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.

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

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will play a team that finished third from the pool stages.

RWC 2027 Draw

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