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The English side and Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

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

Uruguay and Os Lobos, 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 holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

If the groups conclude according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a last-16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play a team that finished third 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