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England and Wales have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a pool together, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a convincing win, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups play out in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish until the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

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

Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a last-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 biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the other six pool winners will play a third-placed side 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