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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a convincing win, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the groups conclude according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both the English and the Irish all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

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

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other 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