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England together with Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing win, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the competition.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in 2023.

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

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will face a third-placed side from the pool stages.

Rugby World Cup 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