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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool together, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks before the final, presuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and the Irish until the final.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.

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

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

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will play 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