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England together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa before the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 stage for the first time in the competition's history.

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

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will play a third-placed side 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