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The English side together with Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

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

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

This edition will introduce 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 game's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the other six pool winners will face 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