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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a group together, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups play out according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the first time in the competition's existence.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six group winners will play 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