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England and Wales will face off in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Key Group Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a pool once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the final, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both the English and Ireland until the final.

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

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third 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