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England and Wales find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a major early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a group once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each impressed as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa before the final, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on that half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

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

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

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

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 stage for the 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 heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

Rugby World Cup 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