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The English side and Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their infamous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

The Irish and the Scots also share a pool together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks before the final, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools play out in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

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

Hosts Face Major Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament 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 France.

This edition will introduce a round of 16 stage for the first time in the competition's existence.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining 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