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England together with Wales will face off in the same group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

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

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

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

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland until the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

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

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

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

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

Rugby World Cup 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