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The English side and Wales will face off in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

If the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.

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

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023.

This edition will feature a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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