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England and Wales will face off in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a pool together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools play out in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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