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The English side together with Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

Ireland and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both the English and the Irish all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third 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