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England and Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the final, presuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools conclude according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

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

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the very first time in the competition's history.

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 meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

RWC 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