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The English side and Wales find themselves placed in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Pairings

The Irish and Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents failing to progress to the knockout stages.

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

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

This edition will feature a last-16 stage for the first time in the competition's history.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

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

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