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England and Wales will face off in the same group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a pool together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools play out according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to launch the competition.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage 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 game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

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

Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw

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