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England together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish until the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the 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 heavyweights initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will face a third-placed side 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