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England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Key Group Draws

Ireland and Scotland also share a group together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the final, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's existence.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six group winners will face a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

Rugby World Cup 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