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The English side together with Wales have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a pool together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the groups play out according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland until the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in France.

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

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six group winners will play 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