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The English side and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing win, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

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

While the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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